The main signs of peritonitis

Peritonitis is generally divided into two types: acute peritonitis and chronic peritonitis. Acute peritonitis is as terrible as acute appendicitis, while chronic peritonitis can be treated with medication and slowly recovered. Peritonitis is mainly an inflammation of the inner wall of the abdominal cavity due to bacterial infection. It may also be caused by the accumulation of many minor abdominal diseases that have not been treated. So what is the main cause of peritonitis?

Causes

1. Primary peritonitis

Primary peritonitis is rare in clinical practice. It refers to peritonitis caused by the absence of a primary lesion in the abdominal cavity and the infection of the abdominal cavity by pathogens via the blood circulation, lymphatic pathways or female reproductive system. It is more common in patients with weak constitution, severe liver disease or low disease resistance.

2. Secondary peritonitis

Secondary peritonitis is the most common acute peritonitis in clinical practice, secondary to intra-abdominal organ perforation, organ injury and rupture, inflammation and surgical contamination.

symptom

The main clinical manifestations of acute peritonitis are peritoneal irritation symptoms in the early stages, such as abdominal pain, tenderness, abdominal muscle tension, and rebound pain. In the later stage, due to infection and toxin absorption, the main symptoms are systemic infection and poisoning.

1. Abdominal pain

This is the main symptom of peritonitis. The pain is usually severe and persistent.

(ii) Nausea and vomiting:

This is a common symptom that occurs early.

3. Fever

In cases of sudden onset peritonitis, the body temperature may be normal at first and then gradually rise. For elderly and frail patients, the body temperature does not necessarily rise as the condition worsens.

4. Infectious toxic shock:

5. Abdominal signs:

Abdominal breathing weakens or disappears, accompanied by obvious abdominal distension. Increased abdominal distension is often an important sign of the progression of the disease.

examine

Tenderness and rebound tenderness are the cardinal signs of peritonitis and are always present. The degree of abdominal muscle tension varies depending on the cause of the disease and the patient's general condition. Abdominal percussion may produce a tympanic sound due to gastrointestinal flatulence. When there is a lot of fluid in the abdominal cavity, a shifting dullness can be heard, which can also be used to locate necessary abdominal puncture. Auscultation often reveals decreased or absent bowel sounds.