What is the Difference Between Peritonitis and Salpingitis

The key difference between peritonitis and salpingitis is that peritonitis involves redness and swelling (inflammation) of the peritoneum, which is the tissue lining the belly, while salpingitis involves infection and inflammation of the fallopian tubes.

Peritonitis and salpingitis are two medical conditions that cause inflammation triggered by bacterial infections. These medical conditions are often associated with streptococcal toxic shock syndrome caused by Streptococcus species. Antibiotics are the primary treatment for peritonitis and salpingitis.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Peritonitis 
3. What is Salpingitis
4. Similarities – Peritonitis and Salpingitis
5. Peritonitis vs. Salpingitis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Peritonitis vs Salpingitis

What is Peritonitis?

Peritonitis is the inflammation of the peritoneum. It can be caused by a severe bacterial infection through blood or due to the rupture of abdominal organs. There are two types of peritonitis: spontaneous bacterial and secondary peritonitis. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis happens due to liver diseases like cirrhosis or kidney diseases, while secondary peritonitis happens due to holes or ruptures inside an organ in the abdomen or other health conditions. Peritoneum infection is usually caused by a hole in an organ in the abdomen, including the stomach and colon. The hole can be due to medical procedures, a ruptured appendix, pancreatitis, diverticulitis, and trauma.

The risk factors for this condition include peritoneal dialysis and other medical conditions such as liver cirrhosis, appendicitis, stomach ulcers, diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease, pancreatitis, and family history of peritonitis. The symptoms of peritonitis include severe belly pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, swollen belly, fluid in the belly, being not able to have bowel movements or pass gas, less urination, thirst, trouble breathing, and low blood pressure or shock.

Peritonitis can be diagnosed through family history, physical examination, X-ray, blood test, urine test, CT scan, and MRI. Furthermore, treatment options for peritonitis may include intravenous antibiotics and surgeries for appendicitis, perforated peptic ulcer, and diverticulitis.

What is Salpingitis?

Salpingitis is a form of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an inflammation of the fallopian tubes. It is usually caused by bacterial infections acquired through vaginal intercourse. Salpingitis can also be caused by abdominal infections or procedures like appendicitis or IUD insertion. The risk factors for this condition may include having had a sexually transmitted disease, having unprotected sex, having multiple sexual partners, and having one partner with multiple sexual partners. The symptoms of salpingitis may include foul-smelling vaginal discharge, yellow vaginal discharge, pain during ovulation, menstruation or sexual activity, spotting between the periods, lower back pain, pain in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, fever, and frequent urination.

Salpingitis can be diagnosed through physical examinations, medical history, blood tests, urine tests, swab tests of the vagina or cervix, transvaginal or abdominal ultrasound, hysterosalpingogram, and laparoscopy. The treatment options for salpingitis may include prescribing oral or intravenous antibiotics, surgery for abscesses, scars, adhesions, or drain fluid from salpingitis.

What are the Similarities Between Peritonitis and Salpingitis?

• Peritonitis and salpingitis are two medical conditions that cause inflammation triggered by bacterial infections.
• Both these medical conditions are often associated with streptococcal toxic shock syndrome caused by Streptococcus.
• They can show similar symptoms, such as abdominal region pain, nausea, vomiting, etc.
• Both these conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination and imaging tests.
• They are mainly treated through prescribed medications such as antibiotics.

What is the Difference Between Peritonitis and Salpingitis?

Peritonitis causes inflammation of the peritoneum, while salpingitis causes inflammation of the fallopian tubes. Thus, this is the key difference between peritonitis and salpingitis. Peritonitis can affect both men and women, while salpingitis affects only women.

The infographic below presents the differences between peritonitis and salpingitis in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Peritonitis vs. Salpingitis

Bacterial infections are any illness caused by bacterial growth or by their toxins. Peritonitis and salpingitis are two medical conditions that show inflammation due to bacterial infections. Peritonitis involves redness and swelling (inflammation) of the tissue that lines the belly called as peritoneum. On the other hand, salpingitis involves infection and inflammation of the fallopian tubes. So, this is the difference between peritonitis and salpingitis.

Reference:

1. “Peritonitis: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic.
2. “Salpingitis – An Overview.” ScienceDirect Topics.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Acute fibrinopurulent peritonitis, low mag” By CoRus13 – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Salpingitis – intermed mag” By Nephron – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia