The nurse is caring for a client with peritonitis. What assessment finding would the nurse expect?

Peritonitis is an acute inflammation of the peritoneum, usually caused by infection, perforation of abdominal organs, or leakage of gastrointestinal contents into the abdominal cavity. This condition triggers a severe inflammatory response that can rapidly progress to systemic infection and sepsis. Clinical manifestations reflect both localized abdominal irritation and systemic inflammatory response. Nursing assessment focuses on identifying signs of infection, abdominal rigidity, and hemodynamic instability. A. Fever is a common systemic manifestation of Peritonitis due to the body’s inflammatory and immune response to infection. Pyrogens released during infection raise the hypothalamic temperature set point, resulting in elevated body temperature. Fever often accompanies other signs such as tachycardia and leukocytosis, indicating systemic involvement. B. A soft abdomen is not expected in Peritonitis. Instead, patients typically present with a rigid, board-like abdomen due to guarding and severe peritoneal irritation. Abdominal rigidity is a key clinical sign that helps differentiate peritonitis from less severe abdominal conditions. C. Bradycardia is not characteristic of Peritonitis. In fact, patients more commonly present with tachycardia as part of the systemic inflammatory response and early signs of sepsis. A slowed heart rate would be atypical and not expected in this condition. D. Polyphagia is unrelated to Peritonitis. Increased appetite is typically associated with metabolic or endocrine conditions such as diabetes mellitus or hyperthyroidism, not acute abdominal infections. Peritonitis is more likely to cause anorexia due to pain, inflammation, and systemic illness.