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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffSigns and symptoms of peritonitis include:
- Abdominal pain or tenderness
- Bloating or a feeling of fullness (distention) in your abdomen
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
- Low urine output
- Thirst
- Inability to pass stool or gas
- Fatigue
If you're receiving peritoneal dialysis, peritonitis symptoms also include:
- Cloudy dialysis fluid
- White flecks, strands or clumps (fibrin) in the dialysis fluid
When to see a doctor
Peritonitis can be life-threatening if it's not treated promptly. Contact your doctor immediately if you have severe pain or tenderness of your abdomen, abdominal bloating, or a feeling of fullness associated with:
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Low urine output
- Thirst
- Inability to pass stool or gas
If you're receiving peritoneal dialysis, contact your health care provider immediately if your dialysis fluid is cloudy, if it contains white flecks, strands or clumps (fibrin), or if it has an unusual odor, especially if the area around your catheter is red or painful. These may be signs of peritonitis.
- Baron MJ, et al. Intraabdominal infections and abscesses. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2890287. Accessed May 12, 2009.
- Treating kidney failure with peritoneal dialysis. National Kidney Foundation. http://www.kidney.org/patients/plu/plu_pd/pd_8.cfm. Accessed May 17, 2009.
- Mandell GL, et al. Peritonitis. In: Mandell GL, et al. Mandell, Douglas and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. Philadelphia, Penn.: Elsevier; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/137891329-3/0/1259/540.html?tocnode=51378139&fromURL=540.html#4-u1.0-B0-443-06643-4..50071-4--cesec2_2535. Accessed May 17, 2009.
- Runyon BA. Treatment and prophylaxis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 12, 2009.
- Rangel SJ, et al. Peritonitis. In: Long SS. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Penn.: Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/137891329-3/0/1679/73.html?tocnode=55241490&fromURL=73.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06687-0..50072-2_1499. Accessed May 17, 2009.
