GC:n

S: NHS – http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/peritonitis/Pages/Introduction.aspx (last access: 2 December 2016); MAYO – http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peritonitis/basics/causes/con-20032165 (last access: 2 December 2016).

N:1. 1776, medical Latin, coined c. 1750 by French pathologist François-Boissier de la Croix de Sauvages (1706-1767) from Greek peritonos (from peritonaion) + -itis “inflammation.”
2. Peritonitis, inflammation of the peritoneum, the membrane that lines the abdominal wall and then folds in to enclose the abdominal organs. The condition is marked by an accumulation of cells, pus, and other bodily fluids, such as serum and fibrin, in the peritoneal cavity (between the two folds of the peritoneal membrane) and by abdominal pain and distension, vomiting, and fever.
3. Signs of peritonitis include:

• Swelling of the abdomen.
• Severe pain and tenderness in the abdomen that becomes worse when the person moves, coughs, or presses on the abdomen. The pain sometimes goes up into the shoulder.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• A rapid pulse.
• Chills and fever.
• Rapid breathing.

A person with these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention. Without treatment, the illness rapidly worsens and can become life-threatening.
4. Peritonitis is diagnosed by the patient’s history, physical exam, and examination of fluid and the abdominal cavity for microorganisms. Ultrasound and CT scan of the abdomen also may be ordered. The treatment for peritonitis usually involves treating the underlying cause and removing the cause of the inflammation. Most patients with peritonitis are treated with antibiotics. The complications of peritonitis may include sepsis, dehydration, hepatic encephalopathy, shock and even death.
Peritonitis can be prevented by eliminating the underlying causes and, in some individuals, by antibiotic therapy. The prognosis for a person with peritonitis depends on its underlying cause and/or how rapidly the patient is effectively treated, especially for infectious bacteria. The prognosis may range from good (appendicitis, for example) to poor (hepatorenal syndrome).

S: 1. OED – http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=peritonitis (last access: 2 December 2016). 2. EncBrit – https://global.britannica.com/science/peritonitis (last access: 2 December 2016). 3. WMD – http://www.webmd.com/hw-popup/pelvic-peritonitis (last access: 2 December 2016). 4. MedicineNet.com – http://www.medicinenet.com/peritonitis/article.htm (last access: 2 December 2016).

SYN:
S:

CR: appendectomy, appendicitis, appendix.