DIAGNOSIS
If you have symptoms of peritonitis, seek medical attention right away. Delaying your treatment could put your life at risk.
Your doctor will ask you about your medical history and perform a complete physical exam. This will include touching or pressing on your abdomen, which will probably cause some discomfort.
There are other tests to help diagnose peritonitis:
- A blood test, called a complete blood count (CBC) can measure your white blood cell count. A high white blood cell count usually signals inflammation or infection. A blood culture can help to identify the bacteria causing the infection or inflammation.
- If you have a buildup of fluid in your abdomen, your doctor can use a needle to remove some and send it to a laboratory for fluid analysis. Culturing the fluid can also help identify bacteria.
- Imaging tests, such as CT scans and X-rays, can show any perforations or holes in your peritoneum.
If you’re on dialysis, your doctor may diagnose you based on the appearance of cloudy dialysis fluid.
TREATMENT
The first step in treating peritonitis is determining its underlying cause. Treatment usually involves antibiotics to fight infection and medication for pain.
If you have infected bowels, an abscess (a collection of pus), or an inflamed appendix, you may need surgery to remove the infected tissue.
If you’re on kidney dialysis and have peritonitis, you may have to wait until the infection clears up to receive more dialysis. If the infection continues, you might need to switch to a different type of dialysis.
Your treatment must begin promptly to avoid serious and potentially fatal complications.
