What assessment findings support the diagnosis of peritonitis?

Abdominal cramping can occur with various gastrointestinal conditions, including peritonitis. However, it is not specific to peritonitis and may also be present in conditions like gastroenteritis or bowel obstruction. Profuse diarrhea is typically associated with gastrointestinal infections or inflammatory bowel diseases rather than peritonitis. In fact, peritonitis often leads to reduced bowel activity, potentially resulting in constipation rather than diarrhea. Hyperactive bowel sounds can occur in early stages of peritonitis but are not a classic finding. In many cases of peritonitis, bowel sounds may be diminished or absent due to the body├óÔé¼Ôäós response to inflammation. A hard, rigid abdomen indicates muscle guarding, which is the body├óÔé¼Ôäós response to inflammation and irritation of the peritoneum. This rigidity is often referred to as 'board-like' and is a key indicator of peritonitis.