Septic arthritis is a serious infection of the joint fluid (synovial fluid) and the joint tissues. It usually reaches the joints through the bloodstream, although it can also happen in people who have had an injection or surgery to their joint.
It can cause severe pain and swelling in one or more joints, especially the knees and hips. This is why it’s important to get the diagnosis of septic arthritis as soon as possible. Early treatment, including antibiotics, can significantly improve your chances of a good outcome.
The symptoms of septic arthritis vary from person to person. They may include pain and swelling of the affected joint, fever, and chills. Your child’s doctor will look at the joint and do some tests to see what is causing the symptoms. This will help them decide whether they have septic arthritis or another condition.
Your child’s healthcare provider will give your child some anti-inflammatory medications to relieve their pain and swelling. These medications, combined with rest, ice packs, and exercise, can help your child recover.
They will also check your child for infections in other parts of the body. This will help them decide if you need to take your child to hospital.
Septic arthritis can be caused by a variety of bacteria and viruses, though Staphylococcus aureus is the most common. These bacteria enter the bloodstream and infect the joint, causing inflammation and destruction of cartilage.
There are a number of other diseases that can also cause septic arthritis, such as gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitides. However, these are rare and do not occur as often as other types of septic arthritis.
You can get septic arthritis if you have an open wound or a cut in your skin that has become infected. You can also get septic arthritis if you have a weak immune system, such as due to diabetes or kidney disease. You can also get septic arthritis from other active infections in other parts of the body, such as a virus that affects the bloodstream or a fungus that spreads over a skin wound.
If you have septic arthritis, your doctor will treat it with antibiotics and drain the infected joint fluid. They may need to do this more than once as you recover.
They will also take a sample of the infected joint fluid to check for white blood cells and bacteria. If you have an X-ray or MRI scan, your doctor will also take pictures of the joint and examine it to see what is causing the symptoms.
These tests can be very important in diagnosing septic arthritis, because they can help doctors see what is happening to the joint. They can also tell your doctor how well the antibiotics are working and if your child’s symptoms are improving.
Your doctor will also give you anti-inflammatory medications to help with your pain and swelling. These medications, combined with stress reduction, ice packs, and exercise, can also help you recover.
