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Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Quiz
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Which statement best describes pelvic inflammatory disease?
- A An infection of the uterus and fallopian tubes caused by haematogenous spread from the bowel You picked ✕
- B An infection of the lower genital tract that remains confined to the cervix You picked ✕
- C An infection of the upper female genital tract caused by ascending spread from the cervix You picked ✓
- D A non-infective inflammatory condition limited to the peritoneal cavity You picked ✕
- E An isolated infection of the ovaries caused by haematogenous spread from distant sites You picked ✕
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Incorrect
The answer is C: An infection of the upper female genital tract caused by ascending spread from the cervix
Explanation
Why C is correct
See What is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease?. Option C is correct. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a general term for infection of the upper genital tract, and it typically affects sexually active young women. The infection spreads upwards from the vagina and endocervix (the lining of the cervical canal), causing endometritis (inflammation of the lining of the uterus), salpingitis (inflammation of the fallopian tubes) and sometimes a tubo-ovarian abscess, which is a collection of pus involving the tube and ovary. Because the genital tract is continuous from the vagina to the tubes, an infection starting low can climb to involve several organs rather than one. Typical symptoms are pelvic or lower abdominal pain, deep pain during intercourse, abnormal bleeding and abnormal discharge. The damage can persist after the infection is treated, and the complications include chronic pelvic pain, reduced fertility and a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy. Memory aid: PID is an ascending infection, up from the cervix to the tubes.
- Definition: Infection of the upper genital tract, typically in sexually active young women.
- Route: It spreads upwards from the vagina and endocervix to the uterus and tubes.
- Components: Endometritis, salpingitis and sometimes a tubo-ovarian abscess.
- Complications: Chronic pelvic pain, reduced fertility and a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy.
Why the other options are incorrect
- A. An infection of the uterus and fallopian tubes caused by haematogenous spread from the bowel: PID typically spreads upwards from the vagina and cervix rather than by haematogenous spread from the bowel. Describing a blood-borne route from the bowel is not the usual definition of PID. Your answer
- B. An infection of the lower genital tract that remains confined to the cervix: PID is defined as infection of the upper genital tract. An infection that stays confined to the cervix does not describe PID, because PID involves the uterus and fallopian tubes. Your answer
- D. A non-infective inflammatory condition limited to the peritoneal cavity: PID is an infection, so describing it as a non-infective condition is wrong. It can cause pelvic peritonitis, but the cause is infection of the genital tract. Your answer
- E. An isolated infection of the ovaries caused by haematogenous spread from distant sites: PID is not usually spread by the blood and is not confined to the ovaries. It typically spreads upwards from the vagina and cervix to involve the uterus and tubes, and sometimes the ovaries. Your answer
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More questions from this set. Start the quiz to answer them and see each explanation.
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1
Which examination finding is most characteristic of pelvic inflammatory disease?
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2
In the UK, which organism is the most commonly identified sexually transmitted cause of pelvic inflammatory disease?
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