Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

Why is peritonitis often associated with nausea and vomiting?

1. It causes decreased appetite

2. Food cannot move through the GI tract due to absent peristalsis

3. It leads to an increase in stomach acid

4. It results in increased gastric motility

The correct answer is: Food cannot move through the GI tract due to absent peristalsis

Peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum, the tissue lining the abdominal cavity, which can occur due to infection, injury, or other irritants. When peritonitis is present, it can affect the gastrointestinal (GI) system significantly. The correct answer highlights that peritonitis can lead to absent peristalsis, meaning that the normal involuntary contractions of the intestines that push food and waste through the digestive system may be disrupted. This can result in the inability of food and waste to move through the GI tract effectively. As a consequence, this obstruction can provoke feelings of nausea and induce vomiting, as the body attempts to rid itself of undigested material or respond to the irritation and inflammation within the abdominal cavity. Other choices provide explanations that do not accurately capture the mechanism behind the nausea and vomiting associated with peritonitis. For instance, decreased appetite may occur as a secondary response to illness but does not directly cause the gastrointestinal symptoms. An increase in stomach acid can typically lead to discomfort but is not a primary factor in peritonitis. Increased gastric motility would actually move contents through the GI tract, which is contrary to what occurs in the case of peritonitis. Therefore, the relationship between absent perist