~ 129 ~ International Journal of Herbal Medicine 2016; 4(4): 129-133 E-ISSN: 2321-2187 P-ISSN: 2394-0514 IJHM 2016; 4(4): 129-133 Received: 19-05-2016 Accepted: 20-06-2016 Farah Naaz Research Associate, Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, New Delhi, India. Noman Khan Research Associate, Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, New Delhi, India. Adnan Mastan Research Associate, Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, New Delhi, India. Correspondence Farah Naaz Research Associate, Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, New Delhi, India. Risk factors of pelvic inflammatory disease: A prospective study Farah Naaz, Noman Khan and Adnan Mastan Abstract Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an ascending infection in which pathogenic micro-organisms spread from the lower genital tract to the upper genital tract of females. It is a disease that affects young, sexually active, reproductive-age women. Exact estimates of the incidence and prevalence of PID are unclear largely because PID is not a reportable disease. Knowledge of pelvic Inflammatory disease and its epidemiology is essential to understand reproductive morbidity in women. This study analyzes the effect of demographic factors and risk factors in pelvic inflammatory disease on women in their reproductive age. This is a prospective study in which 200 patients presenting with definitive diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease or presenting with clinical features suggestive of PID and later on diagnosed as acute pelvic infection were included in the study. Their demographic and epidemiological data were recorded. The highest number of women was observed in age group of 25-29 yrs. Maximum number of women were illiterate, belonged to the middle income group and were Muslims. All of them presented with heterosexual orientation and maximum number of females was using barrier methods for contraception. Most of the females in the study were found to be multiparous and all of them confirmed involvement with single partner only, however their husbands replied involvement with more than one partner. Keywords: Pelvic inflammatory disease, epidemiology, risk factors, reproductive age women 1. Introduction Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a broad term used to cover upper genital tract infection, i.e. endometritis, parametritis, salpingitis and oophoritis. These infections usually spread from the vagina or cervix through the uterine cavity [1] . The clinical spectrum of PID ranges from subclinical endometritis to frank salpingitis, pelvic peritonitis, periappendicitis and perihepatitis [2, 3] and presents with the history of abnormal vaginal discharge, fever and adnexal tenderness requiring microbiological studies on cervical smear or diagnostic laparoscopy for the diagnosis [4-6] . Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a disease that affects young, sexually active, reproductive-age women [7] . It is considered to be the major source of gynaecological morbidity throughout the world [8] . The actual burden of disease is unknown, but data from the USA suggest that > 10.0% of women of reproductive age have a history of PID [9] . The incidence of PID is correlated strongly with the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases, although a fraction of the infections might be of endogenous origin. Use of intrauterine contraceptive devices and operations for legal abortions contribute to the increase in incidence [10] . The significant burden of disease attributed to PID comes predominantly from the long-term reproductive sequelae of tubal infection: tubal factor infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and pelvic adhesions, which lead to chronic pelvic pain [11] . 2. Material and Methods This is a prospective study conducted over 1 year from 1 August 2011 to 31 July 2012, in which 200 females visited the OPD of Tibbiya College, Karol Bagh, New Delhi, India with clinical features suggestive of PID and later on diagnosed as acute pelvic infection, or had definitive diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease or presenting were included in the study. Detailed history of all the 200 cases were taken according to the proforma with the age, parity, religion, socio-economic status, age of marriage, sexual behavior, use of contraceptive and were examined in detail. All patients were investigated with Hb%, TLC, DLC, ESR, Random Blood Sugar, S. Bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT, Alk. Phosphatase, Blood Urea, S.Creatinine, Mantoux Test, PAP smear, VDRL, USG, CXRY-PA view, Urine Routine and Microscopic Examination, Gram`s Staining of the Endocervical Swab. Risk and complications of the conditions were explained to the patients.