Peritonitis - what is it? Causes, Symptoms and Methods of Treatment

Inflammation of the peritoneum is a very dangerous condition. After all, with such a disease, the work of all the organs of the abdominal cavity is disrupted . Why does peritonitis occur ? What is it? What symptoms are accompanied by the disease?

Peritonitis - what is it?

Peritonitis is a disease in which inflammation of the abdominal wall is observed. A similar disease develops for various reasons. In modern medicine, there are several schemes for classifying this ailment. For example, the inflammatory process can be local, strictly localized in a certain area. But often the inflammation spreads to the entire peritoneum - in such cases peritonitis is called total. In addition, the disease can be accompanied by a congestion of serous fluid or pus.

Causes of peritonitis

In most cases, the infection develops against the background of activity of pathogenic microorganisms. Bacteria, fungi and viruses can enter the tissues in different ways. For example, an infection can be entered at the time of injury or surgery. But most often pathogenic microbes enter the abdominal wall along with blood and lymph from other sources of inflammation. Sometimes the disease is the result of the defeat of the pelvic organs.

There is aseptic peritonitis. What it is? The cause of this form of the disease is not an infection, but toxins - it can be blood, gastric juice, bile, etc. Often, this is observed with perforation of the ulcer, perforations in the intestine, rupture of the appendix, etc.

What are the symptoms of peritonitis?

The clinical picture of this disease can be divided into three main stages. Signs of peritonitis will directly depend on the stage of its development:

• The initial, or reactive stage lasts about a day. During this period, the symptoms of the primary disease become more pronounced. Along with this, there are severe pains in the abdomen, which are accompanied by a strong tension of the abdominal muscles. The body temperature rises, the patient complains of weakness. Often, peritonitis leads to the death of a person already during the first day after the onset of inflammation.
• Thereafter, a toxic phase occurs, which is characterized by an apparent improvement in the patient's condition. The soreness and tension of the abdomen disappears, and the person himself is in a state of euphoria and inhibition. Along with this, there is a constant nausea, systematically changing into vomiting. The patient's skin becomes pale, and facial features are sharpened. According to statistics, about 20% of patients die at this stage.
• The last, terminal stage is considered the most dangerous, since only 10% of patients survive after such violent disorders. The body begins to be gradually depleted. The skin becomes earthy, and cheeks and eyes strongly sink. Frequent vomiting, severe shortness of breath, tachycardia are observed. The abdomen of the patient is heavily swollen, and the slightest movement responds with severe pain. Mental disorders are possible.

Methods of treatment of peritonitis

Patients with such symptoms should be urgently delivered to the surgical department. Only a doctor knows how peritonitis is manifested, what it is and what additional research needs to be done. In no case can you do self-medication, because this is an extremely dangerous disease.

Peritonitis requires surgical intervention. During the operation, doctors eliminate the focus of infection, clean the tissues from pus or serous fluid, eliminate intestinal obstruction, carefully wash the abdominal cavity and wall with antiseptic agents, and if necessary put drainage. After surgery, prolonged antibacterial and immunomodulatory therapy follows.