Peritonitis
What is Peritonitis?
Peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum. This is the membrane surrounding the intestines and abdominal cavity. There maybe several underlying reasons, these include bacterial infection, or infection as part of appendicitis, or acid as part of a perforated gastric ulcer.
It could result from an accidental or surgical wound to the abdominal wall. Another possible cause is the perforation of the walls of organs that contain bacteria or chemicals beneficial to that organ, but toxic to the peritoneum.
Infection can be spread either through the bloodstream or from tuberculous Fallopian tubes, or from tuberculous ulceration of the bowel.