a. Peritonitis.

Signs and symptoms of peritonitis include:

(1) Abdominal pain, local or diffused.

(2) Abdominal tenderness (palpate abdominal area).

(3) Tense (rigid), distended abdomen (palpate abdominal area).

(4) Rapid, shallow respirations.

(5) Tachycardia.

(6) Low blood pressure.

(7) Fever.

(8) Constipation.

(9) Nausea or vomiting.

(10) Refusal of casualty to move, usually due to pain.

(11) Referred pain (pain felt at a point other than the source of the pain).

b. Internal Bleeding.

Internal bleeding into the digestive tract or abdominal region may be indicated by the following signs.

(1) Blood being coughed up (hemoptysis).

(2) Blood present in vomitus (hematemesis) or stools (hematochezia). (The blood may be bright red or dark due to interaction with digestive juices.)

(3) Rigid abdominal cavity (cavity filled with blood).