Definition
Peritonism is a reactive syndrome caused by irritation of the peritoneum, which is manifested by intense abdominal pain, sometimes with fever, vomiting, leukocytosis and intestinal paresis.
The symptomatic picture simulates that of an acute peritonitis; however it is not sustained by inflammation or real organic alterations of the peritoneum. In fact, peritonism is often caused by reflex phenomena. It can derive, therefore, from morbid involvement of intra-abdominal organs (as in the case of trauma of the bladder, perforation of an ulcer, intestinal obstruction, colonpatie, acute twisting of the spleen and biliary and urinary colic) or extraddominal (eg myocardial infarction, pneumonia and pleurisy).
A rigidity of the abdominal wall, which can simulate a peritonitis, is also found in the case of traumatic nerve lesions (eg spinal traumas), infectious, toxic or metabolic (eg porphyria and diabetic ketoacidosis).
Possible Causes * of Peritonism
- Appendicitis
- Gall bladder stones
- Kidney stones
- cholecystitis
- Colitis
- Ischemic colitis
- Ulcerative colitis
- Hemorrhagic corpus luteum
- Diabetes
- Diverticulitis
- diverticulosis
- Embolism
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Intestinal Infarction
- Heart attack
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Crohn's disease
- Bowel obstruction
- Pancreatitis
- Pleurisy
- Pneumonia
- salpingitis
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Duodenal ulcer
