A 25-year-old woman comes to the emergency department with a sudden fever of 38.3°C and abdominal pain.During the examination, the nurse notices that the patient has rigid, boardlike lower abdominal musculature.When the nurse tries to perform a vaginal examination, the patient experiences severe pain when the uterus and cervix are moved.The nurse knows that these signs and symptoms are suggestive of:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The sudden onset of fever, abdominal pain, and rigid lower abdominal musculature, along with severe pain on a vaginal examination with movement of the uterus and cervix, are classic signs and symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Endometriosis and uterine fibroids may also cause abdominal pain, but they do not typically present with the same degree of muscle rigidity or pain on cervical movement. Ectopic pregnancy can also cause abdominal pain and pelvic tenderness, but the muscle rigidity is not typically present, and the pain is usually more localized to one side of the abdomen.

A 25-Year-Old Woman Comes to the Emergency Department with a Sudden