Question

You are dispatched to a residence for a 40-year-old female who complains of lower abdominal pain, fever and chills, and a foul-smelling vaginal discharge. Which of the following additional assessment findings would increase your index of suspicion for pelvic inflammatory disease?

1) Cervical motion tenderness
2) Clear vaginal discharge
3) Normal pelvic examination
4) Absence of fever

Answer 1

The additional assessment finding that increases the suspicion for PID in a female patient with lower abdominal pain, fever, chills, and foul-smelling vaginal discharge is cervical motion tenderness.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the scenario you described, the assessment finding that would increase your index of suspicion for pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is option 1) Cervical motion tenderness. PID is a serious infection of the female reproductive system that can lead to infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pelvic pain. It is often caused by sexually transmitted infections, such as Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The symptoms of PID include lower abdominal pain, fever, chills, and a foul-smelling vaginal discharge. Cervical motion tenderness is a hallmark sign where movement of the cervix during a pelvic examination causes pain. Other symptoms may include dysuria (pain during urination), vaginal discharge, and menstrual irregularities.