What is peritonitis?

What is peritonitis?

• A. Inflammation of stomach lining.
• B. Inflammation of the liver.
• C. Inflammation of peritoneum.
• D. Inflammation of the small intestine.

Answer: (C)

Peritonitis is inflammation of the peritoneum, the thin membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and covers most abdominal organs. When this lining becomes inflamed, the abdominal surface becomes extremely tender and stiff, often producing a severe, diffuse or localized pain with guarding and sometimes a rigid, “board-like” abdomen. The condition usually results from infection reaching the peritoneal cavity (for example, from a perforated bowel or ruptured appendix) or from chemical irritation by leaked contents, and it can spread quickly, risking sepsis if not treated promptly. Diagnosis integrates clinical signs with imaging and lab tests, and treatment requires urgent antibiotics plus management of the source of contamination, which may involve surgery. This is different from inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis), the liver (hepatitis), or the small intestine (enteritis).

Peritonitis is inflammation of the peritoneum, the thin membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and covers most abdominal organs. When this lining becomes inflamed, the abdominal surface becomes extremely tender and stiff, often producing a severe, diffuse or localized pain with guarding and sometimes a rigid, “board-like” abdomen. The condition usually results from infection reaching the peritoneal cavity (for example, from a perforated bowel or ruptured appendix) or from chemical irritation by leaked contents, and it can spread quickly, risking sepsis if not treated promptly. Diagnosis integrates clinical signs with imaging and lab tests, and treatment requires urgent antibiotics plus management of the source of contamination, which may involve surgery. This is different from inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis), the liver (hepatitis), or the small intestine (enteritis).