PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE - MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE SOLICITORS

Pelvic inflammatory disease involves an infection of the reproductive tract of women. It begins in the vagina and cervix and spreads up to the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. Some of the conditions have distinctive names, including cervicitis (infection of the cervix), salpingitis (infection of the fallopian tubes), peritonitis (infection of the membrane lining the abdominal cavity) and endometritis (infection of the uterine lining). Most of these conditions are occurring at the same time and are grouped together. The most common cause of pelvic inflammatory disease or PID is Neisseria gonorrhoea and Chlamydia infections. If you think that your condition has worsened as a result of medical negligence, contact our pelvic inflammatory disease solicitors for advice at no cost.

Bacteria travel up the cervix to the uterus and eventually infect the Fallopian tubes, blocking the tubes and leading to infertility. This can also lead to the increased chance of ectopic pregnancy, which can lead to heavy internal bleeding and death if not treated promptly. Scar tissue can form in the pelvis, leading to chronic pelvic pain. It is Chlamydia and gonorrhoea, two sexually transmitted diseases, which are more likely to lead to pelvic inflammatory disease.

There can be a number of symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease. You can be extremely sick with fever and extreme pain. In other cases, there are few or no symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose PID. If you have risk factors for PID, even without symptoms, you can be checked for the bacteria that cause PID. Sexually active women who are under the age of twenty five have the greatest risk for having PID which can, however, occur in women of any age.

Causes of pelvic inflammatory disease include contracting a bacterium through sexual contact or from other bodily fluids that have been contaminated with Chlamydia or gonorrhoea. More than half of all cases of PID come from these two bacteria. There are other bacteria that can cause pelvic inflammatory disease but these are uncommon.

Symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease include abdominal pain, particularly in the pelvic area, back pain, unusual vaginal bleeding, pain on urination, heavy vaginal diseases, and pain with intercourse. You can also get nausea or vomiting. Symptoms of PID are often worse after a menstrual period or in the beginning of a menstrual period.

Tests for the diagnosis of PID include having a temperature higher than 101 degrees on examination. There is often abnormal vaginal discharge and lower abdominal tenderness to palpation. The cervix is tender on examination of the vagina and uterus. The ovaries can also be tender.

Laboratory studies include a urine test or serum test for pregnancy, a UA to check for a bladder infection, a CBC to look for an elevated leukocyte count, cervical cultures to check for chlamydia or gonorrhoea, and testing for other STDs such as HIV and syphilis.

A pelvic ultrasound can show tubo-ovarian abscesses from severe PID; it can also show ovarian torsion or ovarian cysts from infection. PID is the most commonly missed diagnosis in ectopic pregnancies, particularly in the first three months of pregnancy.

Another way to diagnose pelvic inflammatory disease is to do a laparoscopy. This uses a camera attached to a small tube which can visualize any abscesses or areas of inflammation in the pelvic area. The doctor can also identify if there is an ectopic pregnancy instead of PID.

The treatment of PID depends on its cause. Various antibiotics work against gonorrhoea and chlamydia and are used whenever PID is expected. Pain medications are given and IV fluids are used if there is risk of fluid loss through vomiting or diarrhoea.

Medical Negligence Solicitors

Our pelvic inflammatory disease solicitors operate the no win no fee scheme which is totally without risk. You only pay legal charges if the case is won. There are no upfront charges to pay whatsoever. If you would like to discuss your potential compensation claim with a specialist medical negligence solicitor just complete the contact form or email our solicitors offices or use the helpline. Once you have provided sufficient information you will speak with a pelvic inflammatory disease solicitor who will advise you on the prospects of success for your claim and an estimated amount of compensation that may be awarded. Our advice is totally without cost and there is no further obligation to use our legal services. Do yourself justice and give us a call.

HELPLINE: ☎ 1800 633 634

The author of the substantive medical writing on this website is Dr. Christine Traxler MD whose biography can be read here