What is peritonitis?

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Peritonitis is inflammation of the peritoneum, the thin serous membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and covers most abdominal organs. When this lining becomes inflamed, it irritates the peritoneal surfaces, causing sudden, sharp, or diffuse abdominal pain that’s often severe and worsens with movement. The inflamed peritoneum also produces fluid and fibrin, leading to abdominal distension, tenderness, guarding, and sometimes a rigid abdomen. Infections typically reach the peritoneum from a hollow organ that’s perforated or contaminated, such as a ruptured appendix or ulcer, though chemical irritation from leaked contents can also trigger it. Clinically, you’ll often see fever, a fast heartbeat, and signs of peritoneal irritation; it’s a medical emergency because infection can spread to the bloodstream and cause sepsis. Treatment aims to remove the source of contamination and start antibiotics. This topic isn’t about inflammation of the stomach, liver, or pancreas, which are gastritis, hepatitis, and pancreatitis, respectively.