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.
