This document discusses peritonitis, which is inflammation of the peritoneum. The peritoneum is the serous membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and covers organs. Peritonitis can be caused by bacterial or fungal infections entering the abdominal cavity from conditions like peritoneal dialysis or fluid buildup from liver disease. It causes symptoms like abdominal pain and swelling, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Treatment involves hospitalization, intravenous antibiotics and fluids to fight the infection and prevent spreading, and sometimes surgery to remove infected tissue.

1. TOPIC:
PERITONITIS
(Inflammation of the peritoneum)

2. PERITONITIS
What is inflammation?
What is Peritoneum?
What is Peritonitis?
What causes Peritonitis?
What are the clinical features?
How is it treated?

3. What is inflammation?
 It is a physiological response to tissue damage.
 It takes place when microbes have overcome the
non-specific defense mechanism of the body.
 Its aim is protective: to isolate, inactivate and
remove BOTH the causative agent and the
damaged tissue so that healing can take place.
 It is characterized by a series of local changes:
Redness, heat, pain, swelling and loss of
function.

4. What is Peritoneum?
 It is the serous membrane covering the
abdominal Viscera (organs).
 It is the largest serous membrane in the
Human body.
Made of Two layers; parietal peritoneum
and visceral peritoneum
 Parietal peritoneum covers the walls of the
abdominal cavity.

5. What is Peritoneum?
 Visceral peritoneum covers the
viscera/organs
 There is a space between the two layers
known as the Peritoneal cavity.
 This cavity contains the serous fluid.
 This fluid is secreted by the peritoneal cells.
 Abdominal organs are suspended in the
peritoneal cavity and surrounded by the
serous fluid.

7. What is Peritonitis?
peritonitis is an infection resulting
in the inflammation of the
peritoneum.
 If left untreated the infections can
spread and become potentially life
threatening.

8. What are the types Peritonitis?
• There are basically two types:
spontaneous peritonitis
secondary peritonitis
• This classification is done with
regards to the cause.

9. Causes of peritonitis
 It can be cause by bacterial or fungal infections, excess
fluid build up or injury .
spontaneous peritonitis:
 Peritoneal dialysis: Dialysis is the process that removes
waste products and extra fluids from the blood when
the kidneys cannot function properly. During this
process, tiny blood vessels in the peritoneal cavity are
used to perform this filtering function which can
result in spontaneous peritonitis.

10. Causes of peritonitis
 Fluid build-up: Diseases such as cirrhosis which cause
damage to the liver, can result in fluid buildup in the
abdominal cavity known as ascites. This fluid buildup
can often lead to bacterial infection and eventually to
peritonitis.
Secondary peritonitis:
• The main cause here is the escape of pus or other
fluids from an infected abdominal organ such as,
burst appendix, Pancreatitis, Salpingitis, abdominal
surgery, trauma and injury etc.

11. Clinical Features
 Swelling and tenderness in the abdomen
 light or severe, sharp pain
 Fever
 Loss of appetite
 Thirst
 Nausea and vomiting
 Limited urine output
 Inability to pass gas or stool

12. treatment
 Hospitalization
 Medications(Dr prescribes antibiotics to kill bacteria
and prevent the infection from spreading)
 Intravenous fluids (to rehydrate the body and replace
lost electrolytes)
 Surgery (to remove infected tissue and repair damaged
organs)

13. peritonitis