## 3 Results  
### Characteristics of Participants  
Table 1 presents the characteristics of the study group. A total of 15 children from 6 to 12 years old being treated for purulent generalized peritonitis took part in the study. There were nine boys in the group, and the average duration of symptoms was 50.67 (SD = 18.6) hours. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c} \hline \hline
**Variables** & **Study Group (n = 15)** \\ \hline \multicolumn{3}{c}{Demographic data:} \\ \hline Age [years] \({}^{\text{b}}\) & 9.07 \(\pm\) 1.94 \\ Gender (male) \({}^{\text{a}}\) & 9 (60) \\ Disease duration [hours] \({}^{\text{b}}\) & 50.67 \(\pm\) 18.6 \\ \hline \multicolumn{3}{c}{Blood count result:} \\ \hline RBC [\(\times 10^{12}\)/L] \({}^{\text{b}}\) & 3.69 \(\pm\) 0.29 \\ HGB [g/dL] \({}^{\text{b}}\) & 12.73 \(\pm\) 2.71 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 1: Basic data of children with generalized purulent peritonitis. Results of the Electron Microscopy Analysis of Blood Sediment of the Examined Children in a State of Sepsis  
The electron-microscopic analysis of blood precipitate under septic state has revealed that it mainly contains erythrocytes and granulocytes with much smaller number of lymphocytes. Figures 2 and 3 present sample images from microscopic electron analysis of selected elements of blood sediment from the patients being studied. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c} \hline \hline
**Variables** & **Study Group (n = 15)** \\ \hline \multicolumn{3}{c}{Blood count result:} \\ \hline HCT [\%]b & 40 \(\pm\) 0.5 \\ WBC [\(\times\)10\({}^{9}\)/L]b & 14.7 \(\pm\) 2.86 \\ NLR c & 6.1, (4.7–8.85) \\ PLT [\(\times\)10\({}^{9}\)/L] c & 129, (90.5–140) \\ ESR [mm/h]b & 22.33 \(\pm\) 5.37 \\ \hline \multicolumn{3}{c}{Biochemical parameters:} \\ \hline Total bilirubin [mg/dL] c & 1.7, (1.4–3.55) \\ CRP [mg/L]b & 25.23 \(\pm\) 11.34 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular} Note: Data presented as: a n(%), b mean \(\pm\) SD, or c median, (Q1-Q3); RBC: red blood cells; HGB: hemoglobin; HCT: hematocrit; WBC: white blood cells; NLR: neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio; PLT: platelets; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP: C-reactive protein.  
\end{table} 
Table 1: _Cont._  
Figure 2: The ultrastructure of peripheral blood erythrocytes in child X, aged 12, with GPP. (**a**,**b**) erythrocytes (E) of different shapes and unequal electron density (ED), magnification of 2500\(\times\); (**c**) an electron-dense erythrocyte with digitiform projections (EDP) and available granulocyte-fibrillary material (GFM), magnification of 19,000\(\times\); (**d**) disorganized plasmalemma (PM) in erythrocytes of mean electron density, magnification of 23,000\(\times\). The erythrocyte mass was represented chiefly by cells of irregular shape (Figure 2a-d). According to [PERSON] et al. [25], they are chiefly stomatocytes and echinocytes with few erythrocytes in their common morphology of biconcave discs. According to [PERSON] [28], they are chiefly stomatocytes and echinocytes belong to degenerative forms. As for the echinocytes (burr cells), they are presented by cells with numerous thorny projections. The hyaloplasm of the detected echinocytes displayed low electronic density. The surrounding plasmalemma was either significantly loosened or almost lacking, thus disorganizing the peripheral layers of the cytoplasm, the individual elements of which were dissected from the mass (Figure 1c,d). Furthermore, all the erythrocytes of irregular shape had areas where plasmalemma was not only disorganized but even completely absent (Figure 2c). Judging from their electron density, the erythrocytes were heteromorphic. Smaller erythrocytes with separate digitiform projections had the highest electron density (Figure 2b,c). Such changes are characteristic of apoptosis. However, most of the erythrocytes produced changes, such as a decrease in cell volume and its condensation (pyknosis), which do not correspond to those described for erythosis.