Predominantly, young women were affected resulting in a
female:male ratio of 4:1. The median age was 38 years (range
22–87 years). Five patients were older than 50 years and one female
patient was 87 years at the time of diagnosis. Medical history
of almost all patients had been uneventful prior to GAS peritonitis.
Risk factors for primary peritonitis (immunosuppression, liver
cirrhosis, diabetes) were reported in 8 of the 35 (23%) patients.
On admission, severe abdominal pain and high fever were
the most frequent symptoms. In some patients, diarrhea and
flu-like symptoms (fatigue, muscle aches) have been reported.
Toxic shock syndrome was observed in 13 of 35 patients
(Table 1)