Peritonitis - spontaneous Health Article

Definition

Peritonitis is swelling (inflammation) of the peritoneum -- the tissue that lines the wall of the abdomen and covers the abdominal organs.

Alternative Names

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP)

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Spontaneous peritonitis is usually caused by ascites, a collection of fluid in the peritoneal cavity. This usually occurs from liver or kidney failure.

Risk factors for liver disease include alcoholic cirrhosis and other diseases that lead to cirrhosis, such as viral hepatitis (Hepatitis B or C).

Spontaneous peritonitis also occurs in patients who are on dialysis for kidney failure.

Symptoms

• Abdominal pain and bloating
• Abdominal tenderness
• Fever
• Fluid in the abdomen
• Low urine output

Other symptoms include:

• Chills
• Joint pain
• Nausea and vomiting

Signs and tests

Tests that show infection:

• Blood culture
• Cell studies (cytologic examination) of peritoneal fluid
• Chemical examination of peritoneal fluid
• Culture of peritoneal fluid
• Peritoneal fluid analysis (paracentesis)

Other tests:

• Abdominal imaging studies (to rule out other causes of abdominal pain)
• WBC (nuclear) scan