| Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone that can occur after a spread of an infection from the blood stream (hematogenous osteomyelitis), after surgery or penetrating trauma, or after spread of another infection (such as arthritis).
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| Symptoms of osteomyelitis, an infection of the bones, include fever and pain at the site of the infection. |
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Hematogenous osteomyelitis most commonly occurs in children age two to five years old, although it can occur in older children and even in newborns, and is more common in boys. This type of infection is almost more likely to occur in the lower extremities and in over 80-90% of cases, it is caused by the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The most common symptom when the infection begins is fever, especially during the bacteremic phase, when the infection is still in the blood stream. Other symptoms, especially as the infection spreads to the bone, include a rapid onset of local pain at the site of the infection of the bone, and decreased movement of the area. If the infection spreads, it can also cause redness, swelling and the area to be hot.
Testing for a child with suspected osteomyelitis will probably include a complete blood count, which often shows an elevated white blood count. He may also have an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and/or C reactive protein (CRP), which are signs of inflammation or infection. An x-ray will usually also be done, but they are often normal in the first few weeks of an infection. Other tests may include a bone scan, which will show increased uptake of a radionuclide substance at the site of infection, even very early in the course of the infection. A CT (computerized tomography) scan or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may sometimes be done.
Cultures of the blood and by aspiration of the site of the infection are often done and can help guide therapy against a specific bacteria that is causing the infection.
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| Early treatment of osteomyelitis, which usually involves a Pediatric Orthopedic surgeon, is very important and includes using intravenous antibiotics... |
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Early treatment of osteomyelitis, which usually involves a Pediatric Orthopedic surgeon, is very important and includes using intravenous antibiotics that work against the most common bacteria that cause osteomyelitis, especially Staphylocococcus aureus. Treatment with antibiotics usually continues for at least 4 weeks, but after showing improvement, your child may be changed to an oral antibiotic.
In addition to osteomyelitis which occurs after a blood stream infection, children can also get a bone infections after trauma, such as a puncture wound, which may occur after stepping on a nail through a sneaker (which can cause an infection with Salmonella), open fractures, bites and surgery.
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