The main symptoms of peritonitis

The article will deal with a very dangerous disease. Infectious peritonitis in humans or aseptic - the clinical manifestations of it are approximately the same.

During the disease, there are 3 stages: reactive, toxic, terminal. In the first one, the patient suddenly experiences such symptoms of peritonitis as severe abdominal pain, increased heart rate, vomiting, which does not bring any relief to the patient. A very characteristic manifestation of the disease is the protective tension of the muscles of the abdominal press. Moreover, it is often so pronounced that it becomes impossible to palpate such a patient. At the first stage of the disease, such symptoms of peritonitis as progressive dehydration and a gradual decrease in blood pressure begin to appear. This clinical sign becomes especially pronounced in the event that the cause of the disease is perforation of the hollow organ or thrombosis of the mesenteric vessels. The reactive phase is also characterized by a gradual dehydration of the body. At this stage, this is manifested only by the dryness of the mucous membranes, but in the future the situation is aggravated. Most often, the first phase of peritonitis lasts 24 hours.

The toxic stage of this disease usually lasts 48 hours. At the same time, the symptoms of peritonitis slightly change their character. Abdominal pain decreases slightly. This is due to the fact that the nerve receptors are depleted and for some time become unable to transmit to the centers of higher nervous activity painful sensations. In this case, the protective tension of abdominal muscles usually remains the same as before. Regardless of whether viral peritonitis, bacterial or aseptic, symptoms of intoxication appear during the second stage of the disease. The patient's temperature rises. Often it reaches critical numbers. In addition, the patient is more likely than before to increase the respiratory rate and heart rate.

The terminal stage is manifested by progressive deterioration of the patient's condition and suppression of the activity of his central nervous system. At the same time, it becomes more sluggish, but sometimes this is followed by a brief euphoria. Symptoms of dehydration continue to increase. Arterial blood pressure decreases, the pulse speed increases. The facial features of the patient become pointed, and the eyeballs seem sunk. Other symptoms of peritonitis are less important for diagnosis at this stage.

Since this disease is one of the most dangerous, it is necessary to begin its treatment as early as possible. At the same time, doctors use abundant antibiotic therapy, means of detoxification therapy, and also carry out resuscitation measures, if necessary in such actions. Thanks to comprehensive treatment over the past decade, it has been possible to significantly reduce the lethality from peritonitis, but it still remains quite high.