Acute pelvic inflammatory disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an upper genital tract infection in females that is typically acquired via sexual activity. It usually is initiated by the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis and/or Neisseria gonorrhoeae and escalates into a polymicrobial infection from local genital tract flora. Research identifies various known risk factors including young age, immunopathology and others. This article reviews the epidemiology, differential diagnosis, management, and concepts of prevention for PID. © 2021 Pediatric Medicine. All rights reserved

Suicide in adolescents: A worldwide preventable tragedy

The tragedy of suicide in adolescents is experienced by all countries of the world with as many as 200,000 youth and young adults ending their life in the prime of their life because of self-murder each year. Such a tragedy should be unacceptable to clinicians of the world and this article examines factors leading to such death in our youth with recommendations on how to prevent such a worldwide carnage. A major issue in suicide prevention is to screen all children and adolescents for depression and other factors that may trigger suicide in adolescence

Reproductive and contraceptive issues in chronically ill adolescents

ObjectivesTo address reproductive and contraceptive issues in adolescent girls with chronic medical conditions in order to assist health-care providers when they counsel teenagers about contraceptive methods. MethodsThe review is based on a literature search in Medline 19732010 about specific contraceptive use by adolescents with obesity, endocrine, cardiovascular, haematologic, oncologic, neurological, psychiatric, gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, autoimmune, renal, pulmonary conditions and disabilities. The latest recommendations from the World Health Organisation for adolescents are also added. Contraceptive methods studied were combined hormonal contraceptives, progestogen-only contraceptives, and intrauterine contraceptives. ResultsAdolescents are eligible to use any method of contraception. Contraceptive choices of chronically ill adolescents have changed over time. Given new developments in the field of adolescent sexual and reproductive health care, safe and effective forms of contraception are available for almost every adolescent with a chronic condition. When selecting a method, the nature of the medical illness and the expressed desires of the teenager must be taken into account. ConclusionsAdolescents, including those with chronic conditions, are sexual beings; they are entitled to sexual and reproductive health care. Decisions on appropriate contraception must be based upon informed choice, after adequate sexual health education. © 2010 The European Society of Contraception and Reproductive Health

Vaccination coverage among adolescents and risk factors associated with incomplete immunization

The compliance with vaccination recommendations in adolescence has not been well documented in Greece. The aims of the present study were to estimate the vaccination coverage in a sample of adolescents and to identify risk factors associated with incomplete immunization. Α total of 1,005 adolescents aged 11 to 19 years who were outpatient visitors at an Adolescent Health Unit were included in this study. Participation required parental presence and consent and presentation of the official Child Health Booklet, from which immunizations were transcribed. The highest coverage rates were observed for childhood immunizations: poliomyelitis and hepatitis B (both 96%), measles/mumps/rubella (MMR; 93.1%), and meningitidis C (MenC; 83.4%). By contrast, lower rates were shown for the booster dose of tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (39.6%), for hepatitis A (HAV; 59.1%), for the varicella vaccine (13.8% among adolescents without disease history), and among girls for the human papillomavirus vaccine (11.9%). We found a significant association between age and series completion for MMR, MenC, and HAV, with lower uptake among older adolescents . Overall, 22.7% of study participants were fully vaccinated according to criteria employed. In particular, non-urban residents, non-nationals, and females had lower likelihood of being fully vaccinated. In conclusion, our findings suggest suboptimal vaccination coverage among our sample's adolescents, mandating that every effort should be made to increase uptake, particularly among the geographically dispersed and the culturally diverse and female adolescents. © 2011 Springer-Verlag