How to Identify Peritonitis

When an infection occurs in the protective lining of the abdomen, often as a result of a ruptured or infected organ, severe pain, accompanied by a fever and vomiting signal the onset of peritonitis, a medical emergency. As the condition progresses, the patient may go into shock. Identify peritonitis through the careful observation of symptoms and a medical exam.

Instructions

• 1

  Observe the initial symptoms of peritonitis which include abdominal pain that is severe from the onset and remains steady or worsens with movement or pressure upon the abdomen or sides.

• 2

  Monitor a swollen abdomen that feels hard to the touch. Due to the intense contraction of the muscles in response to an infected peritoneum, the abdomen becomes noticeably larger. Nausea, weakness and vomiting may be present and the patient’s skin may be clammy and pale.

• 3

  Suspect peritonitis when the above symptoms occur and the victim has recently undergone abdominal surgery, suffers from a pelvic inflammatory disease or has a peptic ulcer.

• 4

  Transport a patient with severe abdominal pain immediately to an emergency medical facility where further tests will identify peritonitis. The doctor will order an x-ray of the abdomen, take the patient’s history and vital signs and order blood tests.

• 5

  Prepare for emergency surgery if the doctor diagnosis peritonitis. The surgeon will open the abdominal cavity and search for the cause of the infection. The patient will begin intravenous antibiotics.