PID is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Risk behaviors, including those associated with STDs, were evaluated in adolescents with PID to identify behaviors with the highest risk for infection. From 12/1/94 to 12/1/95, in an inner city hospital, 34 in-patient adolescents with PID, and a control group of 26 sexually active adolescents without PID, answered a questionnaire about risk taking behaviors. Established diagnostic criteria were used for the clinical diagnosis of PID. Laboratory data were collected prospectively. Chi-square were performed on the data. The majority of the patients were African American from low socio-economic backgrounds. Mean ages for the two groups are presented below: Table The difference between the patients age and the age of the current sexual partner differed significantly (group T test, p=0.056) for the two groups. Those with PID were more likely than those without PID to lack a history of hepatitis(hep) B vaccine (6% vs. 38%, p=0.005), and to have a positive chlamydia enzyme immunoassay (31% vs. 0%, p=0.009). There were no differences between the two groups with regard to: unprotected sex, use of contraception, pregnancy, # of lifetime sex partners, drug or alcohol use, or history of rape. There were no differences between the two groups with regard to syphilis, hep B, hep C, or HIV infection. In conclusion, the current sex partners of those with PID were older than those without PID, which may be a risk factor for PID and other STDs, such as chlamydia. Determining risk behaviors associated with PID could identify those patients who need more intensive education and counseling to modify these risky behaviors. Also, although there was no difference between the prevalence of previous hep B infection, there was a significant difference in the history of hep B vaccination between the two groups. Thus, although all adolescents should be immunized for hep B, those with PID should be particularly targeted for immunization before hospital discharge.
