Peritonitis Quiz
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Have a fever
Stomachache
The chills
Stomachache gets worse when pressed
Sharp pain in the stomach worsens when walking
Loss of appetite
Fatigued
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Peritonitis?
Peritonitis is the inflammation of the peritoneum, a thin layer lining the inside of the abdomen and surrounding abdominal organs. It is a life-threatening emergency requiring prompt medical attention and can be caused by bacterial infections, liver disease, or a rupture in the gastrointestinal tract, among other things.
Typical Symptoms of Peritonitis
- Fever
- Stomach or abdominal pain in a specific area
- Stomach or abdominal pain with the abdomen becoming hard when gently pressed
- Stomach pain that worsens when the stomach is pressed
- Difficulty walking normally
- Stomach or abdominal pain
- Stomach or abdominal pain with a sharp, stabbing sensation
- Chills or feeling cold
Diagnostic Questions for Peritonitis
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Do you have a fever?
- Do you have stomach or abdominal pain in a specific area?
- Do you have stomach or abdominal pain with your abdomen becoming hard when gently pressed?
- Does your stomach pain get worse when you press on it?
- Do you have difficulty walking normally?
Treatment of Peritonitis
Peritonitis is a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate hospital treatment. Treatment typically involves antibiotics and fluids injected into the vein to address the underlying infection, and in some cases, surgery may be necessary.
Reviewed By:
Maxwell J. Nanes, DO (Emergency Medicine)
Dr Nanes received a doctorate from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and went on to complete a residency in emergency medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. There he trained at Froedtert Hospital and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in the practice of adult and pediatric emergency medicine. He was a chief resident and received numerous awards for teaching excellence during his time there. | | After residency he took a job at a community hospital where he and his colleagues worked through the toughest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. |
Aiko Yoshioka, MD (Gastroenterology)
Dr. Yoshioka graduated from the Niigata University School of Medicine. He worked as a gastroenterologist at Saiseikai Niigata Hospital and Niigata University Medical & Dental Hospital before serving as the Deputy Chief of Gastroenterology at Tsubame Rosai Hospital and Nagaoka Red Cross Hospital. Dr. Yoshioka joined Saitama Saiseikai Kawaguchi General Hospital as Chief of Gastroenterology in April 2018.
Content updated on Feb 19, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- My body is hot
- Recurrent fevers
- Periodic fever (>100.4°F / 38°C)
- Walking difficulties
- Fever then no fever then fever again
- Remittent fever of 102.2°F / 39°C
- Extremely high fever of 106.7°F / 41.5°C or higher
- Fever of 100.4°F / 38°C or more for weeks
- Stomach was uncomfortable, then had a fever
- Can't walk
- Stomachache and diarrhea before a fever
- Temperature of 102.2°F / 39°C goes up and down
- Sudden inability to walk
- Abnormal gait
- Trouble walking
See full list
Symptoms Related to Peritonitis
Diseases Related to Peritonitis
FAQs
Q.
Sudden Abdominal Pain? Why Peritonitis Is Critical & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
Peritonitis is a medical emergency: sudden, severe abdominal pain with a rigid, tender belly, fever, nausea or vomiting, bloating, or inability to pass gas can signal a life threatening infection that can quickly lead to sepsis. Pain that worsens with movement is a key red flag. Seek emergency care now for diagnosis, IV antibiotics, and possible surgery, and see the complete guidance below for full symptom lists, causes, who is at higher risk, how doctors diagnose it, prevention, recovery, and the step by step next actions that may change what you should do.
References:
* Kujath P, Kujath C. Peritonitis: Update on Pathophysiology, Clinical Manifestations, and Management. J Clin Med. 2022 Mar 15;11(6):1618. doi: 10.3390/jcm11061618. PMID: 35329813; PMCID: PMC8945761.
* Boermeester MA, Wietasch G. The acute abdomen: a review of the current perspectives. BMC Surg. 2021 May 18;21(1):234. doi: 10.1186/s12893-021-01188-4. PMID: 34005051; PMCID: PMC8130833.
* Sartelli M, Coccolini F, Kluger Y, et al. Management of intra-abdominal infections: guidelines of the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES). World J Emerg Surg. 2021 Dec 22;16(1):63. doi: 10.1186/s13017-021-00406-8. PMID: 34937516; PMCID: PMC8752814.
* Irani M, Irani F, Irani A, et al. Peritonitis. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 28613483.
* Cui Z, Zhang Z, He H, et al. Surgical management of secondary peritonitis: from principles to practice. Ann Transl Med. 2022 Mar;10(5):324. doi: 10.21037/atm-2022-15. PMID: 35463402; PMCID: PMC9031070.
Q.
From Pellets to Liquid: What to Expect from IBS-C, IBS-D, and IBS-M Stool
A.
IBS stool ranges from hard pellets to loose liquid depending on subtype: IBS-C is typically small, dry, pellet-like, IBS-D is loose or watery, and IBS-M alternates between both; see below for how the Bristol Stool Scale classifies these patterns and what they mean for care. Important details below cover red flags like blood, black stools, fever, weight loss, or severe pain that need prompt medical attention, plus practical diet, stress, and medication strategies so you can choose the right next steps.
References:
* Lewis, S. J., & Heaton, K. W. (1997). Stool form scale as a useful guide to intestinal transit time. *Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology*, *32*(9), 920-924. PubMed PMID: 9283901.
* Ohman, L., et al. (2022). Stool consistency, visceral hypersensitivity and the gut microbiome in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. *Gut Microbes*, *13*(1), 2038752. PubMed PMID: 35149303.
* Ford, A. C., et al. (2021). Stool frequency and consistency are associated with psychological distress and health-related quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation. *Neurogastroenterology & Motility*, *33*(9), e14144. PubMed PMID: 33737669.
* Black, C. J., et al. (2018). Stool Consistency and Stool Form in Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Predominant Diarrhea: Insights From a Population-Based Study. *Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology*, *16*(10), 1600-1606.e1. PubMed PMID: 30043818.
* Camilleri, M., et al. (2019). Clinical Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Mixed Bowel Habits (IBS-M). *American Journal of Gastroenterology*, *114*(7), 1079-1087. PubMed PMID: 31278144.
Q.
The Bathroom Symptom Nobody Talks About: What Yellow Mucus Means for Your Gut Health
A.
Yellow mucus in stool is a common but overlooked sign of gut irritation or inflammation, often linked to IBS, proctitis, infections, or problems with fat digestion and bile, and it deserves attention if it keeps happening or appears with blood, fever, persistent pain, severe diarrhea or constipation, or weight loss. There are several factors to consider, from simple diet and hydration steps to when to get stool tests or urgent care; see the complete guidance below for red flags, evaluation, and treatments that can guide your next healthcare decisions.
References:
* Smids C, van der Sluis M, de Vos P. Mucins and the mucin barrier in inflammatory bowel disease. World J Gastroenterol. 2015 Oct 7;21(37):10521-36. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i37.10521. PMID: 26457039; PMCID: PMC4596395.
* Vancamelbeke M, Vlietinck R, Gils A, Van Assche G, Ferrante M, Rutgeerts P, Vermeire S. Dysfunction of the intestinal mucus layer in inflammatory bowel disease. J Crohns Colitis. 2016 Jan;10(1):87-97. doi: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjv194. Epub 2015 Nov 12. PMID: 26564619.
* Cornick S, Tawiah A, Chadee K. Mucin Degradation and Its Role in the Pathogenesis of Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Apr 16;21(8):2736. doi: 10.3390/ijms21082736. PMID: 32316447; PMCID: PMC7215887.
* Johansson ME, Hansson GC. Mucus in human large intestine: composition, functions and dysfunction. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2011 May;8(5):268-78. doi: 10.1038/nrgastro.2011.65. PMID: 21468113.
* Martens EC, Neumann M, Desai MS. Regulation of the human gut microbiome by diet-encoded glycan recognition. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2013 Aug;11(8):604-12. doi: 10.1038/nrmicro3062. Epub 2013 Jul 2. PMID: 23817122; PMCID: PMC4023773.
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Ubie’s symptom checker demonstrated a Top-10 hit accuracy of 71.6%, surpassing the performance of several leading symptom checkers in the market, which averaged around 60% accuracy in similar assessments.
Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Montravers P, Blot S, Dimopoulos G, Eckmann C, Eggimann P, Guirao X, Paiva JA, Sganga G, De Waele J (2016). Therapeutic management of peritonitis: a comprehensive guide for intensivists. Intensive care medicine.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26984317/Cho Y, Johnson DW (2014). Peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis: towards improving evidence, practices, and outcomes. American journal of kidney diseases.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24751170/Fried LF, Bernardini J, Johnston JR, Piraino B (1996). Peritonitis influences mortality in peritoneal dialysis patients. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8915978/