Parametritis is a relatively rare inflammatory condition. Early medical treatment often increases therapeutic success and can prevent complications.
What is parametritis?
Parametritis is inflammation of the pelvic cell tissue (also called the parametrium) in women. In most cases, parametritis occurs on one side only. Parametritis is a condition that is comparatively uncommon. The main complaints associated with parametritis include severe, persistent pain in the pelvic area. This pain usually affects only a single side of the pelvis. Depending on the patient affected, the pelvic pain emanating from parametritis may radiate to the buttocks and thighs. The typical pain associated with parametritis is often accompanied by acute fever and chills. In addition, parametritis can lead to pain when emptying the bowel. Finally, another possible consequence of parametritis is bladder spasms associated with an increased urge to urinate.
Causes
In most cases, parametritis is caused by bacteria that invade the pelvic tissues and lead to inflammatory processes here. Especially so-called staphylococci or streptococci (roundish bacteria) are often responsible for a developing parametritis. The migration of bacteria into the tissue can be favored by various factors. These include injuries in the pelvic region as a result of a birth process. Surgical interventions on the cervix, during which tissue is accidentally punctured, can also result in parametritis. Furthermore, parametritis is a possible consequence of radiation therapy (a type of therapy used to fight cancer) or an existing cervical carcinoma (a malignant change on the cervix).
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
Parametritis is initially manifested by characteristic pelvic pain. In some patients, this pain radiates to the abdomen or buttocks. For this reason, the pain is difficult to localize and assign to a specific disease. The inflammation also leads to typical general symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue and malaise. Externally, the inflammation can be recognized by non-specific signs such as pallor, eye rims and reddened cheeks. In advanced stages, patients also experience discomfort during urination and defecation. Patients usually experience severe pain, which can lead to urinary retention and subsequently to further complications. As parametritis progresses, abscesses form in the pelvic region. These can be felt from the outside and hurt when touched. If they are not treated, further abscesses may develop. These can become inflamed and, in the worst case, lead to blood poisoning, which can have fatal consequences for the patient. If parametritis is detected and treated early, serious complications can be avoided. Treatment with antibiotics helps to ensure that the patient is completely symptom-free again after one to two weeks.
Diagnosis and course
Parametritis can often be diagnosed during a so-called palpation (a medical examination with the help of palpation of body structures). If parametritis is present, it may be palpated in the form of a thickening that extends to the pelvic wall. Another indication of parametritis is, for example, a slight displacement of the uterus to the side of the body that is not affected by the inflammation. Often, an affected woman will also have limited mobility in the pelvic area. Finally, parametritis is typically accompanied by an increased white blood cell count. In the course of parametritis, the palpable painful thickening at pelvic level may increasingly harden. Without therapeutic treatment, parametritis often results in the formation of abscesses (encapsulated collections of pus). Treatment success of the inflammatory disease usually increases with early initiation of therapy.
Complications
In most cases, the complications of parametritis can be relatively well avoided if the disease is treated early. This usually results in a positive course of the disease without any particular symptoms.Those affected suffer primarily from severe pain in the pelvis and abdomen. Pain in the buttocks can also occur and have a very negative effect on the patient’s quality of life. Furthermore, parametritis leads to complaints and symptoms of flu, so that there are chills, fever and fatigue. Pain during defecation and urination may also occur. This pain often leads to psychological discomfort or severe depression and may also cause the patient to be permanently irritable. Due to the pain in the pelvis, parametritis can promote movement restrictions. The treatment of parametritis is carried out without complications. With the help of antibiotics, most of the symptoms can be quickly limited. Only in severe cases are surgical interventions necessary to repair injuries to the tissue. The life expectancy of the patient is thereby usually not reduced or otherwise affected by parametritis.
When should you see a doctor?
If symptoms such as an urge to urinate or cramps in the lower abdomen develop over several days, there is cause for concern. As soon as the need to urinate occurs immediately after going to the toilet, this indicates a medical condition that should be investigated by a doctor. Pain in the abdomen or during bowel evacuation is considered unusual. If the affected person suffers from flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills or exhaustion, a doctor should be consulted. Fatigue, a feeling of illness, and internal weakness are signs of illness and should be treated. If the symptoms increase or the irregularities persist over a longer period of time, a visit to the doctor is necessary. If abscesses develop, special care should be taken. There is a risk of blood poisoning and thus, without treatment, a risk of premature death of the affected person. A decrease in performance, a pale appearance, and eye rims indicate a health disorder. Attention and concentration deficits, sleep disturbances as well as apathy are signs of a disease. A visit to the doctor is necessary so that a cause investigation can be initiated. In addition, a treatment plan must be drawn up in order to achieve an improvement in the state of health as quickly as possible. If emotional or mental stress occurs due to the physical complaints, a doctor is also needed. If behavioral problems occur, the affected person needs a doctor.
Treatment and therapy
Professional treatment of parametritis usually involves the administration of antibiotics (medicines to specifically fight bacteria). So-called anti-inflammatory drugs may also be used as part of the treatment of parametritis; these are drugs that inhibit inflammatory processes. If abscesses have formed as a result of parametritis, they can be treated with drains, for example. Drains are used in this context to drain off the accumulated pus. As a rule, appropriate drainage treatment of abscesses resulting from parametritis is performed through the vagina of an affected patient. Depending on the individual cause of parametritis, the above-mentioned treatment steps may occasionally need to be supplemented by further therapeutic measures to eliminate favorable factors; if, for example, injuries in the pelvic region have favored the migration of bacteria into the organism of an affected person and thus caused parametritis, the corresponding injury may also require medical treatment. If accidents during surgery have resulted in severe tissue injury (which also promoted parametritis), for example, corrective surgery may be necessary in severe cases.
Outlook and prognosis
The prognosis of parametritis is usually favorable. If medical assistance is sought at an early stage, considerable relief of symptoms can be observed within a short time by the administration of medications. Freedom from symptoms and thus recovery is documented in patients on average after a few weeks. In some cases, there may be intolerance to the medications administered. This results in a short-term deterioration of health.It is necessary to change the treatment plan so that the side effects that have occurred are reversed and at the same time a cure for the underlying disease can take place through alternative agents. If medical treatment is rejected or avoided by the affected person, a significant deterioration of the health condition can occur within a short period of time. The pathogens can spread further in the organism and lead to an increase in the existing complaints. Especially in people with a weakened immune system, this triggers severe impairments. In addition, secondary diseases and complications can occur. In addition to changes in mental strength or irreparable damage to the tissue, surgical interventions can ultimately no longer be avoided if the course of the disease is extremely unfavorable. Otherwise, irregularities of body functions or organic disorders may occur. In high-risk patients, this poses a threat to average life expectancy.
Prevention
Parametritis due to injury during childbirth or during surgery can hardly be prevented. Parametritis due to malignancies such as cervical carcinoma can be prevented to a limited extent by early treatment of the cancer. If parametritis has already developed, doctors recommend starting treatment as early as possible. In this way, the risk of complications occurring can be reduced.
Follow-up care
In the first place, the affected person should see a doctor very early in the case of parametritis, because the measures and the possibilities of aftercare in this disease are significantly limited in most cases. Therefore, the affected person should see a doctor already at the first symptoms and signs of the disease in order to prevent the further occurrence of symptoms. As a rule, it is not possible to cure the disease oneself. Most patients are dependent on taking various medications. The doctor’s instructions should always be followed. If there is any uncertainty or if there are severe side effects, the doctor should always be consulted first. Likewise, the affected person should not drink alcohol when taking antibiotics, so as not to reduce the effect of the antibiotics. Likewise, the respective injury should be well protected and disinfected. A high standard of hygiene should also be observed. Likewise, regular checkups by a doctor are very useful to monitor the current state of parametritis. As a rule, the disease does not reduce the life expectancy of the affected person if it is treated properly and, above all, in time. Further measures of a follow-up are usually not necessary in this case.
What you can do yourself
The most important step in self-help is adherence to the antibiotic regimen usually prescribed for parametritis, without premature discontinuation or unauthorized dosing. Supportive measures may include taking probiotics. They prevent damage to the intestine caused by the antibiotic and at the same time ensure easier bowel emptying in the case of pain associated with this. The diet should be light and low in fat so that the body and intestines are not put under additional strain. In addition, foods that promote inflammation, such as sugar or red meat, should be temporarily avoided. During fever episodes, cold calf compresses, airy clothing and a slight lowering of the room temperature help. In addition, hot teas made from elderberry or linden blossoms can help lower fever. Antipyretics from the pharmacy should be taken only after medical consultation and prudently. In case of additional chills, a warm bath is also advisable. In principle, it is important to drink considerably more. Hot ginger and chamomile tea are ideal for this purpose. They have an analgesic or anti-inflammatory effect and relieve cramps. Those affected should also avoid heavy physical exertion and, above all, relax the abdomen. Alternatively, pain can be reduced by distraction. This involves deliberately distracting oneself from the pain by concentrating intensively on another activity or a sensory impression, thus pushing the pain into the background. A similar effect is also possible through meditation.
