What is osteomyelitis?
Osteomyelitis is an infection in a bone. Infections can reach a bone by traveling through the bloodstream or spreading from nearby tissue. Infections can also begin in the bone itself if an injury exposes the bone to germs.
Smokers and people with chronic health conditions, such as diabetes or kidney failure, are more at risk of developing osteomyelitis.
Although once considered incurable, osteomyelitis can now be successfully treated.
Most people need surgery to remove areas of the bone that have died. After surgery, strong intravenous antibiotics are typically needed.
Symptoms
Sometimes osteomyelitis causes no signs and symptoms or the signs and symptoms are hard to distinguish from other problems. This may be especially true for infants, older adults and people whose immune systems are compromised.
Signs and symptoms of osteomyelitis include:
- Fever
- Swelling, warmth and redness over the area of the infection
- Pain in the area of the infection
- Fatigue
Causes
Most cases of osteomyelitis are caused by staphylococcus bacteria.
Germs can enter a bone in a variety of ways, including:
- The bloodstream.
- Injuries. Severe puncture wounds can carry germs deep inside your body. If such an injury becomes infected, the germs can spread into a nearby bone.
- Surgery. Direct contamination with germs can occur during surgeries to replace joints or repair fractures.
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteomyelitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20375913
