What Causes Pelvic Pain?

Discussion Appendicitis results from a closed loop obstruction of a blind-ending tubular structure arising from the cecum. It is a common cause of abdominal pain. It is the most frequent condition leading to emergent abdominal surgery in pediatrics. The combination of obstruction, edema, bacterial overgrowth, increased inflammatory process and increased intraluminal pressure leads to abdominal pain and possibly perforation. Appendicitis occurs in all age groups but is rare in neonates. The peak age is 6-10 years old. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an inflammatory disease of the uterus, fallopian tubes and adjacent pelvic structures caused by ascending microorganisms from the vagina and cervix particularly Neisseria gonorrhea and Chlamydia trachomatis. Increased risks for PID includes early age at first intercourse, multiple sexual partners, intrauterine device insertion and tobacco smoking. The Centers for Disease Control’s Sexually Transmitted Disease Treatment Guidelines can be found here. The causes of pelvic pain and abdominal pain necessarily overlap a great deal due to the proximity of anatomic structures as this case illustrates. Acute pelvic pain is defined as 6 months of noncyclic pain that is at the umbilicus or lower. Complete histories and good general physical examinations are important to guide the differential diagnosis. Pelvic examination may or may not be indicated. Laboratory testing especially to determine pregnancy status also helps guide d...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news