Glossary for Peritonitis

Abdominal Pain: A condition which is characterized by the sensation of pain that is located in the abdomen
Abdominal cystic lymphangioma: A rare form of benign tumor that occurs in infants. It is essentially a malformation of one of the abdominal lymph vessels where a portion is dilated and form a lymph fluid-filled cyst. Symptoms may vary depending on the exact location and size of the cyst.
Abdominal pain: A condition which is characterized by the sensation of pain that is located in the abdomen
Abdominal swelling: Swelling or bloating of the abdomen
Acute Appendicitis: Infection of the appendix
Adhesions: A fibrous band or structure by which parts abnormally adhere
Amebiasis: An intestinal infection caused by a parasitic amebic organism. It is usually associated with poor sanitation.
Annular pancreas: An abnormality where a ring of pancreatic tissue forms around the duodenum and can block the flow of food through the digestive system. The severity of symptoms depends on the degree of constriction. Partial obstruction may not be detected until adulthood.
Ascites: Fluid accumulation in abdominal cavity
Aureobasidium pullulans exposure: Aureobasidium pullulans is a species of fungus which is capable of causing a variety of diseases in humans. The fungus is most often found in damp places either inside the home or in the environment. It is often pinkish or blackish. It is a rare cause of disease and is more likely to occur in immunosuppressed patients. It can cause infection in just about any part of the body depending on the nature of the exposure (inhalation, wound, ingestion etc.) and as such the type and severity of symptoms can vary considerably.
Bacteremia: A condition where there is the presence of bacteria in the blood
Balantidiasis: Intestinal infection with a parasitic protozoa (Balantidium coli) resulting in intestinal inflammation. It is usually transmitted through direct or indirect contact with pig fecal matter.
Bowel Obstruction: Blockage in the bowel of the digestive tract.
Campylobacter fetus infection: Campylobacter fetus is a food borne bacterial infection which may vary in severity from mild to severe. The bacteria are opportunistic and mainly affect debilitated patients but can also occur in healthy patients. Abortion due to blood infection in the fetus can occur in pregnant women who become infected. The infection is less likely to cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea than other Campylobacter infections but is prone to causing infection in other parts of the body such as the appendix, abdominal cavity, central nervous system (meningitis), gallbladder, urinary tract and blood stream. Cattle and sheep are the main source of this bacteria.
Campylobacter jejuni infection: Campylobacter jejuni infection is a common food borne bacterial infection which may vary in severity from mild to severe. Death can occur in severe cases but tends to occur in patients with other existing illnesses such as HIV, cancer or liver disease. The infection can in rare cause infection in other parts of the body such as the appendix, abdominal cavity, central nervous system (meningitis), gallbladder, urinary tract and blood stream. Undercooked chicken is the main source of infection.
Chills: Excessive feeling of coldness.
Cholecystitis: Inflammation of the gallbladder which concentrates and stores bile. The condition may occur suddenly (acute) or persist over a longer period of time (chronic).
Cholelithiasis: Is the presence of gallstones in the gallbladder
Collapse: Physical or mental process shutdown
Colonic volvulus: Twisting of the colon.
Colorectal cancer: Cancer of the colon (bowel) or rectum.
Crohn's disease: Crohn's disease causes inflammation of the digestive system. It is one of a group of diseases called inflammatory bowel disease. The disease can affect any area from the mouth to the anus. It often affects the lower part of the small intestine called the ileum.
Cytosine arabinose syndrome: Symptoms following the use of a chemotherapy drug called cytosine arabinose.
Death: The cessation of life
Degos Disease: A rare disorder where lesions caused by blood vessel inflammation and blockage form on the skin and eventually in the internal organs, especially in the small intestine.
Digestive duplication: Duplication of a part of the digestive system. Duplication of the anal canal is the least common where as duplication of the Symptoms vary depending on what part of the digestive system is duplicated.
Distal colorectal cancer: Approximately 75% of colorectal cancers are sporadic and develop in people with no specific risk factors. The remaining 25% of cases occur in people with significant risk factors.
Diverticular Disease: Protrusions of the colon wall (diverticulosis) or their inflammation (diverticulitis)
Diverticulosis of the ileum: A Meckel's diverticulum is a pouch on the wall of the lower part of the small bowel that is present at birth (congenital). The diverticulum may contain tissue from the stomach or pancreas.
Drug-resistant Streptococcus Pneumoniae Disease: Streptococcal respiratory infection resistant to antibiotics
Ectopic pregnancy: A condition where a fertilized egg embeds itself outside the uterus.
Edwardsiella tarda infection: A type of bacterial infection. The bacterium (Edwardsiella tarda) infects freshwater-dwelling animals and transmission occurs through consuming infected animals or contact with contaminated water. Symptoms are determined by the location of the infection. Healthy people are often able to fight of the infection but those with an underlying illness or poor immune systems may be more susceptible.
Fallopian tube conditions: Conditions that affect the fallopian tubes of a woman
Fistula: The abnormal passage between two internal organs
Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome: A rare condition where the thin layer around the liver becomes infected as a result of a spread of infection from gonococcal or chlamydial infections in females.
Gonorrhea: Common sexually transmitted disease often without symptoms.
Group A Streptococcal Infections: "Strep" bacteria responsible for strep throat, impetigo and some other strep conditions.
Hamartomatous colorectal cancer: The hamartomatous polyposis syndromes are a heterogeneous group of disorders that share an autosomal-dominant pattern of inheritance and are characterized by hamartomatous polyps of the gastrointestinal tract.
Hernia: General term for an organ protruding where it should not.
Hiccups: Noise and diaphragm muscle contractions (properly called "hiccoughs")
High fever: Where a patient has an elevated temperature
Intestinal obstruction: Blockage in the intestines of the digestive tract.
Leukocyte adhesion deficiency type 1: A rare inherited disorder characterized by abnormal neutrophil functioning which reduces the body's immunity. The abnormal neutrophils are unable to be transported to sites of infection due to their inability to adhere to certain blood vessel components which would normally lead them to the infection site. Infections may be life-threatening as the body is unable to destroy bacteria effectively. Type 1 LAD specifically involves a lack of receptor proteins on the neutrophil which prevents it from adhering.
Liver abscess: Pus in the liver
Mallory-Weiss syndrome: A laceration of the lining of the gastroesophageal junction or just above it - often caused by severe vomiting.
Meckel's diverticulum: A Meckel's diverticulum is a pouch on the wall of the lower part of the small bowel that is present at birth (congenital). The diverticulum may contain tissue from the stomach or pancreas.
Microsporidiosis: An infectious disease caused by a certain group of protozoa which form spores (microsporidia) e.g. Encephalitozoon, Enterocytozoon, Nosema, Pleistophora, Trachipleistophora, Vittaforma, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Enterocytozoan )Septata) intestinalis). The protozoa invade and live inside the hosts cells. The release spores into the gastrointestinal tract where they are excreted and can infect other animals. The infection is often asymptomatic in healthy people but can cause serious symptoms affecting various parts of the body in immunocompromised people.
Muckle-Wells syndrome: An inherited condition characterized by amyloidosis (protein deposits), deafness, hives and limb pain.
Nephrotic syndrome: Various kidney glomeruli conditions
Ovarian cysts: Cysts occurring in the ovaries.
Pasteurella multocida: An infectious disease caused by a bacterium called Pasteurella multocida. It is often transmitted through bites and scratches from pets and it can be found in mammals and fowl.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: Infection of the womb and fallopian tubes.
Peptic Ulcer: Ulcer on the lining of the stomach or duodenum
Perforated ulcer: is a very serious condition where an untreated ulcer can burn through the wall of the stomach (or other areas of the gastrointestinal tract), allowing digestive juices and food to leech into the abdominal cavity
Peritoneum disorders: Any condition that affects the peritoneum
Proximal colorectal cancer: Approximately 75% of colorectal cancers are sporadic and develop in people with no specific risk factors. The remaining 25% of cases occur in people with significant risk factors.
Puerperal fever: Delayed uterine infection after childbirth
Salpingitis: Inflammation of the fallopian tubes
Septic shock: serious medical condition caused by decreased tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery as a result of infection and sepsis, though the microbe may be systemic or localized to a particular site
Septicemia: A systemic inflammatory response to an infection.
Shivering: Body or skin shaking or shivering symptoms
Shock: Severe condition from reduced blood circulation
Skin symptoms: Symptoms affecting the skin.
Sporadic colorectal cancer: Sporadic colon cancer occurs in people who have no (or very little) family history of the disease. Although colon cancer sometimes has a familial or hereditary component, it usually doesn't.The majority of colon cancer, about 75%, is sporadic.
Streptococcal Infections: Various "strep" bacterial infections.
Toxic megacolon: It is a life threatening complication.
Tuberculosis: Bacterial infection causing nodules forming, most commonly in the lung.
Typhoid fever: Fever from bacterial food poisoning.
Ulcerative colitis: Ulcerative colitis (Colitis ulcerosa, UC) is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Ulcerative colitis is a form of colitis, a disease of the intestine, specifically the large intestine or colon, that includes characteristic ulcers, or open sores, in the colon.