About this topic
You have a thin lining on all sides of your belly. It also covers many of the organs in your belly. If this thin lining becomes swollen and sore, you have peritonitis. You may have an infection as well. Peritonitis is a serious problem and can be dangerous if not treated. ‚
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- If you do peritoneal dialysis, you may have to switch to some other type of dialysis while you heal.
- If you had surgery, talk to your doctor about how to care for your cut site. Ask your doctor about:
- When you should change your bandages
- When you may take a bath or shower
- If you need to be careful with lifting things over 10 pounds
- When you may go back to your normal activities like work or driving
- Be sure to wash your hands before and after touching your wound or dressing.
- Take extra care if you have a feeding tube. Wash your hands before touching the tube. Clean the skin around your tube daily. Ask your doctor for tips on how to care for your feeding tube.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. Your doctor may send you to an expert. You may need to see a stomach doctor called a gastroenterologist. Other times, your doctor may have you visit a surgeon. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Fight an infection
- Help with pain
- Keep up blood pressure
- Give fluid
Will physical activity be limited?
Your activity may be limited until you are feeling better. If you had surgery, you may need to rest for some time while you heal. Ask your doctor what is safe for you to do. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Abscess
- Dead bowel tissue
- Adhesions or scar tissue
- Liver or kidney problems
- Infection moves to the bloodstream
- Shock
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Wash your hands before you touch or care for a tube that goes in your belly. Take extra care with dialysis catheters or feeding tubes.
- Clean the skin around your catheter or tube daily.
- If you have liver disease and the fluid called ascites, you may get a drug to stop peritonitis from coming back.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, wound that will not heal.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you how to care for my cut site, if I have one.
- I can tell you what changes I need to make with my diet.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have a fever or swelling, redness, or warmth around my wound.
Where can I learn more?
Better Health Channel ‚
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Peritonitis ‚
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/peritonitis/pages/introduction.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚