Peritonitis is defined as?

• A. Inflammation/infection of peritoneum causing rigidity/tenderness
• B. Inflammation of lungs causing cough
• C. Inflammation of liver causing jaundice
• D. Inflammation of stomach causing ulcers

Answer: (A)

Peritonitis is inflammation (often with infection) of the peritoneum, the lining of the abdominal cavity. The hallmark is irritation of this lining, which causes the abdominal wall to become rigid and very tender to touch. Patients typically have severe, shifting or constant abdominal pain, and exam may reveal guarding and rebound tenderness. The peritoneum’s irritation can arise from leakage of intestinal contents after a perforation, infection spreading to the peritoneal cavity, or chemical irritation, and it requires urgent evaluation and management.

The other scenarios describe inflammation of different organs with symptoms that don’t reflect peritoneal irritation—for example, inflammation of the lungs causing a cough, or the liver causing jaundice, or the stomach causing ulcers.