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TUBERCULAR PERITONITIS

Categories: Digestive Organs

This may occur as a primary trouble or secondary
to tuberculosis of the bowels, lungs, and Fallopian tube. It is most

frequent in males between twenty and forty.







Symptoms. These are variable. It may occur like acute peritonitis with

sudden onset of high fever, pain, tenderness, bloating, vomiting and

constipation; these symptoms passing into those of chronic peritonitis.

Often there a
e gradual loss of strength and flesh, low and irregular

fever; frequently the temperature goes below normal with a little ascites

tympanites, constipation, diarrhea and masses in the abdomen which consist

of the omentum (apron covering the bowels) rolled up and matted into a

sausage-shaped tumor in the upper part of the abdomen, or of thickened or

adherent coils of the bowel, enlarged mesentric lymph nodes, etc.

Spontaneous recovery may occur, or the course of the disease may resemble

that of a malignant tumor.



Treatment. If there is effusion and few adhesions, cutting in and

removing the fluid may help. In other cases good nourishing diet with cod

liver oil is best.



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