Pediatric Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Summary

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), is an infection of the female reproductive organs (uterus, fallopian tubes, cervix or ovaries), and is most often caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. Other infections that are not sexually transmitted can sometimes cause PID.

If not treated, PID can cause scarring of the fallopian tubes and result in infertility, chronic pain, and/or pregnancy complications.

Symptoms

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) may cause mild symptoms, or no symptoms at all.

Symptoms of PID – if present – include:

• Pain in the lower abdomen
• Fever
• Unusual discharge, sometimes with a foul odor
• Burning during urination
• Bleeding between periods
• Nausea or vomiting (in severe cases)

Tests and Diagnosis

Your daughter’s doctor will take a medical history and perform a physical examination. Based on her symptoms, the doctor may also:

• Conduct a pelvic exam
• Order a urine sample to test for infection
• Order blood work
• Perform an abdominal/pelvic ultrasound or other imaging
• Take a culture of vaginal secretions to test for infections

Treatments

If your daughter is diagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease, her doctor will prescribe:

• Antibiotics – taken by mouth for a mild case or as combination of intravenous and oral for a more severe case
• Antibiotic treatment - for any sexual partner to prevent recurrence

In rare cases, if PID causes an abscess, surgery may be needed.

Prevention

The number one cause of PID is untreated sexually transmitted infections. To prevent PID, talk to your daughter about the importance of:

• Avoiding multiple sexual partners
• Using barrier methods of birth control, like condoms, even if she is on the birth control pill or other contraceptive methods
• Seeking treatment immediately for unusual discharge, pelvic pain, or bleeding between periods

Resources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention