OSTEOMYELITIS:
Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone, a rare but serious condition. Bones can become infected in a number of ways: Infection in one part of the body may spread through the bloodstream into the bone, or an open fracture or surgery may expose the bone to infection.
WHAT CAUSES OSTEOMYELITIS?
In most cases, a bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus, a type of bacteria causes osteomyelitis.
Certain conditions may increase your risk for osteomyelitis.
WHO GETS OSTEOMYELITIS?
Only 2 out of every 10,000 people get osteomyelitis. The condition affects children and adults, although in different ways. Certain conditions and behaviors that weaken the immune system increase a person’s risk for osteomyelitis, including:
- Diabetes (most cases of osteomyelitis stem from diabetes)
- Sickle cell disease
- HIV or AIDS
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Intravenous drug use
- Alcoholism
- Long-term use of steroids
- Hemodialysis
- Poor blood supply
- Recent injury
SYMPTOMS OF OSTEOMYELITIS:
Acute osteomyelitis develops rapidly over a period of seven to 10 days. The symptoms for acute and chronic osteomyelitis are very similar and include:
- Fever, irritability, fatigue
- Nausea
- Tenderness, redness, and warmth in the area of the infection
- Swelling around the affected bone
- Lost range of motion
Osteomyelitis in the vertebrae makes itself known through severe back pain, especially at night.
OSTEOMYELITIS TREATMENT:
Figuring out if a person has osteomyelitis is the first step in treatment. It’s also surprisingly difficult. Doctors rely on X-rays, blood tests, MRI and bone scans to get a picture of what’s going on. A bone biopsy is necessary to confirm a diagnosis of osteomyelitis. This also helps determine the type of organism, typically bacteria, causing the infection so the right medication can be prescribed.