1. Learn to Recognize the Symptoms
Educate yourself about the symptoms of peritonitis, an inflammatory, potentially life-threatening condition in which the peritoneum membrane that covers your abdominal organs becomes infected. One of the most recognizable symptoms of the disorder is severe pain and tenderness, as well as a bloated or full sensation in your abdomen. You may not be able to pass gas, defecate or urinate very much, if at all. You might develop a fever as a result of the infection. Nausea and vomiting are symptoms as well.
If you rely on peritoneal dialysis because your kidney function is impaired, you may be at risk of developing peritonitis. Your catheter insertion site may be red and inflamed and your peritoneal fluid will look cloudy if you have this type of infection. There may be small pieces of white matter, called fibrin, in your fluid as well.
2. Give Blood and Fluid Samples
After examining you, your doctor may take some samples of two bodily fluids that can help confirm a diagnosis of peritonitis. One is a simple blood test. The other procedure, using a very thin needle, is to gather a sample of the peritoneal fluid that exists in your abdomen. Both of these tests may show an increased level of white blood cells that are consistent with infection. There may be bacteria in both of these fluids as well, which leads to a diagnosis of peritonitis.
3. ndergo X-Rays and Other Diagnostic Testing
You may be sent for X-rays or CT scans that will allow your doctor to see (literally) what's going on in your digestive tract. Peritonitis can be caused by a variety of other conditions, including gastric ulcers, pancreatitis, diverticulitis and Crohn's disease. A diagnostic imaging test will show whether there are any perforated or torn areas in your stomach or colon that need to be repaired to treat your illness.
