Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0085693 (acute appendicitis)
 3,606 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The most significant complication of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in women is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which is responsible for considerable medical, social, and economic problems. Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, or both cause PID in at least 50% of cases. Other microorganisms that are part of the abnormal vaginal flora also cause PID. Gonorrhea rates have quickly fallen in most developed countries, but chlamydia infection rates are still high in developed countries as well as in developing countries. The clinical signs and symptoms of PID have changed over time. More and more PID cases are classified as atypical or subclinical. Typical PID is rare. A strong association exists between chlamydia infection and tubal factor infertility or ectopic pregnancy in women with or without a history of PID. Health providers are concerned about the problem of unrecognized PID. Thus, recommendations for PID diagnosis have changed. A syndromic diagnosis of PID is advocated. The minimum criteria for syndromic diagnosis of PID include lower abdominal tenderness, bilateral adnexal tenderness, cervical motion tenderness, and no evidence of competing diagnosis (e.g., acute appendicitis). Application of this improved approach will provide appropriate treatment earlier in the course of PID. PID-related morbidity (i.e., infertility and ectopic pregnancy) is a considerable public health problem worldwide. In order to prevent PID, clinicians and public health specialists need to understand the interactions of PID-causing microorganisms with the host immune system. By the time PID symptoms are detected, considerable tubal damage already exists limiting the effect of tertiary prevention of PID. Secondary prevention keeps lower genital tract infection from moving up to the upper genital tract. Health providers play a key role in secondary prevention by screening for STDs and in primary prevention by counseling patients about safer sex practices.
J Br Fer Soc 1996
PMID:Immunopathogenesis of pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility -- what do we know and what shall we do? 1234 74