What Are Some Symptoms of a Ruptured Bowel?
Symptoms of a ruptured bowel, or gastrointestinal perforation, include stomach pain, chills, fever, nausea and vomiting, according to Healthline. A perforation can cause peritonitis, which occurs when bacteria, bile or stomach acid causes inflammation to the lining of the abdominal cavity that results in abdominal tenderness.
A ruptured bowel is one of several different forms of gastrointestinal perforations, and it occurs when a hole develops through the large bowel, notes Healthline. A gastrointestinal perforation can also occur in the stomach, small intestine or gallbladder, and it is generally caused by appendicitis, diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, ulcers and inflamed Meckel’s diverticulum. Blunt trauma, knife wounds and abdominal surgery also cause a ruptured bowel. It is a potentially life threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention.
