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- $Unique_ID{BRK00130}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{What Does the Diagnosis of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Involve?}
- $Subject{PID diagnosis causes Infections Infection Genitourinary lifestyle
- lifestyles Pelvic Inflammatory Disease IUD gonococci Chlamydia sexual
- intercourse sexually transmitted diseases std venereal vd endometrium ovaries
- fallopian tubes tube abdominal pain menstruation cervical tenderness discharge
- gonococcus urethra multiple microbial bacteria Penicillin ampicillin
- tetracycline}
- $Volume{A-14, J-23}
- $Log{
- Risk Factors of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease*0007901.scf
- Pathways of Infection of PID*0007902.scf
- Complications of PID I*0008001.scf
- Complications of PID II*0008002.scf
- Complications of PID III*0008003.scf
- Diseases of the Female Reproductive System*0009001.scf}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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-
- What Does the Diagnosis of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Involve?
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-
- QUESTION: Can you tell me what the diagnosis of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- involves?
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-
- ANSWER: Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an extremely painful and
- potentially sterilizing condition, must be diagnosed and treated as promptly
- as possible. Acute PID most frequently occurs in women under 25 years of age
- who are sexually active with multiple partners. The IUD contraceptive device
- has been associated with PID, but the disease is more often linked to
- organisms such as gonococci and Chlamydia that are transmitted through sexual
- intercourse. The disease can involve the endometrium, ovaries, fallopian
- tubes, and any adjacent organs and extensions of them.
- Symptoms of the disease include lower abdominal pain during or after
- menstruation, cervical tenderness and discharge, and increased pelvic heat
- compared with other parts of the body. Inflammation of the endometrium often
- occurs and abdominal tenderness and distension frequently are present. A
- severe infection is indicated by fever up to 103 degrees F, a rapid pulse,
- and, in some instances, abnormal uterine bleeding and frequent urination.
- Identifying the culprit germ can involve cultures of tubal fluid, though
- treatment is often initiated before receiving culture results. If gonococcus
- is involved, Gram stains taken from the cervix and urethra may help identify
- the organism, and in severe cases or when the patient's abdominal pain is
- difficult to evaluate, a look inside using the laparoscope may be the best way
- to go. Many cases of PID are caused by infections by more than one type of
- germ (multiple microbial infections) and must be treated accordingly.
- The first line of treatment is antibiotic therapy, which may be difficult
- to devise when there is more than one bacteria causing the problem.
- Penicillin, ampicillin, and tetracycline are the most frequently prescribed.
- PID is a serious infection, causing complications that may require
- hospitalization, so early detection and treatment is imperative. Patient
- education is a vital precaution and when the condition does occur, treating
- sexual partners is a must to prevent the disease from being transmitted a
- second time.
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- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
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