Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

Canadian Guidelines on Sexually Transmitted Infections - Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

and

Sexually Transmitted Diseases – CDC Treatment Guidelines - Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

- Differential diagnosis of lower abdominal pain:

• gynecologic disease or dysfunction (complications of pregnancy, acute infections, endometriosis, adnexal disorders, menstrual disorders)
• gastrointestinal (appendicitis, gastroenteritis, inflammatory bowel disease)
• genitourinary (cystitis, pyelonephritis, nephrolithiasis)
• musculoskeletal
• neurologic causes.

- The most common infectious cause of lower abdominal pain in women is PID.

- Only one-third of women with PID have temperature > 38°C.

- Recommend pregnancy test to rule out ectopic pregnancy.

- Screen for HIV and syphilis. Immunize against hepatitis B if not already immune.