Diagnostic Challenges and Management Strategies of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease in Sexually Inactive Pediatric and Adolescent Patients: A Systematic Review of Case Reports.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), primarily associated with sexually transmitted infections (STIs), represents a diagnostic challenge in virgin pediatric patients due to the often vague, non-specific symptomatology, which can mimic other conditions. Management prioritizes targeted antimicrobial therapy, with surgical intervention reserved for complications like tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA). The present systematic review aimed to critically evaluate the available evidence from case reports of PID in virgin pediatric and adolescent patients. The search strategy was in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Case reports published up to March 2025 were searched through PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. We included English-language case reports on non-sexually active pediatric and adolescent patients with available full text, excluding commentaries, reviews, and editorials. The Critical Appraisal Checklist for Case Reports was used for the quality assessment of case reports. Through descriptive analysis, PID symptoms, diagnostic, and management modalities were reviewed. The quality of the included case reports was assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist. This review was not registered and did not receive external funding. Among the 56 case reports searched, 20 reports were selected and analyzed based on eight criteria. The most frequently reported symptoms were lower abdominal pain (95.8%), fever (63.6%), and gastrointestinal symptoms (50%). Common comorbidities included urinary tract infections (22.7%), congenital anomalies (18.1%), and appendicitis history (18.1%). and species were the predominant pathogens identified. All patients received antibiotic therapy, while 90.9% underwent surgical intervention. Favorable outcomes were achieved in 72.7% of cases, though 27.2% experienced complications or recurrences. Although commonly linked to sexual activity, PID should be considered in sexually inactive pediatric patients presenting with abdominal pain and adnexal masses. Early diagnosis, appropriate imaging, and timely treatment are crucial to improve outcomes and reduce complications. The evidence in this review is limited by its reliance on case reports, which may introduce bias and restrict generalizability.