Difference between adnexitis and pelvic inflammatory disease

There are several differences between adnexitis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). In terms of anatomical location, adnexitis specifically refers to inflammation of the uterine adnexa, including the fallopian tubes and ovaries; in contrast, PID is broader in scope, involving inflammation of the female upper genital tract organs and surrounding tissues, such as the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, parametrial tissues, and pelvic peritoneum. Regarding etiology, adnexitis is usually caused by direct bacterial infection of the fallopian tubes or ovaries, whereas PID has more complex causes, including decreased immune function and infection with endogenous or exogenous pathogens. Symptomatically, adnexitis primarily presents with lower abdominal pain and increased vaginal discharge; PID, in addition to these symptoms, may also present with fever, chills, and dyspareunia. Adnexitis and PID differ in their site of involvement, causes, and clinical manifestations, thus requiring accurate diagnosis and individualized treatment based on specific clinical circumstances.