Peritonitis

Peritonitis is inflammation of the peritoneum, the lining of the inner wall of the abdomen and cover of the abdominal organs. If  left untreated, it can be life-threatening.

 Symptoms
Signs and symptoms may include:
 severe pain in the stomach
 fever, or feeling hot and shivering
 tachycardia (quick heart rate)
 trouble urinating or urinating less than usual
 weight loss.
There may also be swelling in the abdomen, feeling or being sick, and a loss of appetite.

If peritonitis happens while kidney dialysis treatment is being used, the fluid in the collection bag might look cloudier than usual or contain white flecks.

 Causes 
Include: 
perforation of the intestinal tract
pancreatitis
pelvic inflammatory disease
burst stomach ulcer
cirrhosis
ruptured appendix.
digestive problems (example Chron's disease or diverticulitis)
surgery
The lining of the stomach (peritoneum) covers internal organs like the kidneys, liver and bowel. If the lining becomes infected and you get peritonitis, the internal organs it covers can also be damaged. 
 Treatment
After a peritonitis diagnosis, treatment in hospital is needed to get rid of the infection.Treatment usually involves being given antibiotics into a vein (intravenously).

If regular kidney dialysis is ongoing, a doctor might discuss a different way of doing it until the peritonitis has been treated.

 Related pages 
 appendix
 gallbladder
 acid reflux

References

Category:Diseases