Pyosalpinx is the presence of pus in a fallopian tube, often caused by infections such as pelvic inflammatory disease. Symptoms include pelvic pain, vaginal discharge, and fever. Prompt treatment with antibiotics is necessary to avoid life-threatening complications.
A pyosalpinx refers to the presence of pus in a fallopian tube. When both tubes are affected by the accumulation of pus inside, the term used is pyosalpinges. The fallopian tubes are important structures in the female reproductive system, where eggs from the ovaries pass on their way to the uterus.
A pyosalpinx frequently develops in women of reproductive age, usually between the ages of 15 and 49. It often occurs as a result of infections in the reproductive tract, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Pelvic inflammatory diseases are usually caused by sexually transmitted bacteria, such as Neisseria gonorrhea and Chlamydia trachomatis. Other bacteria capable of causing PID and pyosalpinx include strep and staphylococcus. These bacteria can also be introduced into the reproductive tract during childbirth, abortion procedures, or with the use of intrauterine devices (IUDs).
Infections can start in the vagina and progress to the cervix, uterus, and one or both fallopian tubes if not treated early. The body’s response to the presence of bacteria in the fallopian tube is to send white blood cells to the area to fight off the offending organisms. Salpingitis, or inflammation of the fallopian tubes, usually occurs during this process. As the infection progresses, pus usually builds up inside the fallopian tube, resulting in the pyosalpinx.
Symptoms include pelvic pain, vaginal discharge, fever, and weakness. Women who experience these symptoms are often referred to gynecological clinics for proper evaluation and prompt treatment. Gynecologists, doctors who specialize in diseases of the female reproductive system, may need a pelvic ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) scan of the pelvic area to view the fallopian tubes and other reproductive parts to look for any abnormalities. A hyterosalpingogram, a procedure in which a contrast medium is introduced into the uterus and fallopian tubes to make them more visible on X-rays, may also be performed. The condition is often treated with antibiotics to fight the infection.
Sometimes a pyosalpinx can rupture due to trauma or other causes. When this happens, the pus can spread inside the abdominal cavity and cause infection and inflammation, usually manifested by the sudden onset of severe abdominal pain and fever. If not diagnosed and treated promptly, a ruptured pyosalpinx can cause bacteria to spread into the bloodstream and can become a life-threatening condition.
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