2. INTRODUCTION
• PERITONITIS IS A SERIOUS CONDITION THAT STARTS IN THE ABDOMEN.
THAT'S THE AREA OF THE BODY BETWEEN THE CHEST AND THE PELVIS.
PERITONITIS HAPPENS WHEN THE THIN LAYER OF TISSUE INSIDE THE
ABDOMEN BECOMES INFLAMED. THE TISSUE LAYER IS CALLED THE
PERITONEUM.
• THE TWO MAIN TYPES OF PERITONITIS ARE PRIMARY SPONTANEOUS
PERITONITIS, AN INFECTION THAT DEVELOPS IN THE PERITONEUM; AND
SECONDARY PERITONITIS, WHICH USUALLY DEVELOPS WHEN AN INJURY OR
INFECTION IN THE ABDOMINAL CAVITY ALLOWS INFECTIOUS ORGANISMS INTO
THE PERITONEUM. BOTH TYPES OF PERITONITIS ARE LIFE-THREATENING.
