What're the symptoms of osteomyelitis?
Patients with acute osteomyelitis of peripheral bones are usually febrile, have had weight loss and fatigue, and have localized warmth, swelling, erythema, and tenderness. Acute osteomyelitis refers to an infection which develops and peaks over a relatively short period of time. In children, acute osteomyelitis usually presents itself as pain in the affected bone, tenderness to pressure over the infected area, fever and chills. The typical patient looks sick. Blood tests often show
elevated white blood cell count as well as high sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein. The high sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein indicates the body response to acute inflammation, and follow-up tests are good indicators of the progression of the disease and response to treatment. Blood culture is done to identify the responsible bacteria. Local aspiration of the site is also sometimes useful to identify the bacteria involved. X-rays are usually normal in the first 5 to 7days, until the periosteum (covering of the bone) is elevated by swelling or pus formation, when X-ray changes occur.
Adult patients with osteomyelitis of the spine usually have a longer period of dull, aching pain in the back, and no fever. Some patients note pain in the chest, abdomen, arm, or leg. This occurs when the inflammation in the spine causes pressure on a nerve root serving one of these other areas. The lower back is the most common location for osteomyelitis. When caused by tuberculosis, osteomyelitis usually affects the thoracic spine (that section of the spine running approximately from the base of the neck down to where the ribs stop).
When osteomyelitis is not properly treated, a chronic (long-term) type of infection may occur. In this case, the infection may wax and wane indefinitely, despite treatment during its active phases. An abnormal opening in the skin overlaying the area of bone infection (called a sinus tract) may occasionally drain pus. This type of smoldering infection may also result in areas of dead bone, called sequestra. These areas occur when the infection interferes with blood flow to a particular part of the bone. Such sequestra lack cells called osteocytes, which in normal bone are continuously involved in the process of producing bony material. |
More information on osteomyelitis
What is osteomyelitis? - Osteomyelitis is infection of the bone. Osteomyelitis may occur as a result of a bacterial bloodstream infection (bacteremia, or sepsis).
What causes osteomyelitis? - Many different types of bacteria and viruses can cause osteomyelitis. The most common type of bacteria is called Staphylococcus aureus.
What're the symptoms of osteomyelitis? - Symptoms of osteomyelitis include febrile, have had weight loss and fatigue, and have localized warmth, swelling, erythema, and tenderness.
How is osteomyelitis diagnosed? - The physician makes the diagnosis of osteomyelitis with a complete medical history of the child, physical examination, and diagnostic tests.
What's the treatment of osteomyelitis? - The objective of treating osteomyelitis is to eliminate the infection and prevent the development of chronic infection. |
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