Which of the following is a common sign of pelvic inflammatory disease?

In pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), generalized lower abdominal pain, nausea, and fever are hallmark symptoms. The inflammation typically arises from an infection that affects the reproductive organs, including the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. This infection can lead to significant discomfort in the lower abdomen due to the inflammatory response and the affected tissues.

Nausea is often associated with the pain as the body responds to the underlying illness, and fever is a common systemic response to infection. Thus, when patients present with a combination of these symptoms, it strongly indicates the presence of PID. Recognizing these signs is crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment, as untreated PID can lead to severe complications including infertility.

Other options present symptoms that do not align with PID. Pain around the umbilicus and heavy vaginal bleeding suggest other conditions, possibly related to ectopic pregnancy or other gynecological issues. Abdominal cramping and an odorless vaginal discharge do not capture the typical presentation of PID, as the discharge is often associated with an infectious process that may produce an abnormal odor. Upper abdominal pain and diarrhea, alongside the absence of fever, are misleading symptoms that do not correlate with PID, which commonly presents with lower abdominal issues and fever.