Before getting into the effects of osteomyelitis, let’s understand what exactly osteomyelitis is. It’s referred to as “Acute Osteomyelitis,” which is a bone infection. It develops in children within 14 days(two weeks).
This is pretty common in children, especially in long bones such as arms and legs. However, this doesn’t mean it cannot affect your whole body. Of course, the arms and legs bones are more likely to be prone in case of this infection.
It affects children of all ages, but most cases are seen in children below 5 years.
What Are The Causes & Symptoms Of Osteomyelitis?
Osteomyelitis is caused by a bacteria, Staphylococcus Aureus or Staph. Usually, when a bacterial infection from one part of the body spreads to the bone, it leads to osteomyelitis.
Children are highly prone to blood infections due to the massive blood supply. It then carries the bacteria to bones from the blood, causing osteomyelitis.
Symptoms:
The common symptoms of osteomyelitis include fever, tiredness, sore bones in the infected area, swelling, redness, and fussiness.
How Is It Diagnosed And Treated?
The infection is diagnosed in two ways– Analyzing the symptoms and physical examination.
Also, the doctor suggests relevant tests such as blood culture to check the bacteria in the blood samples, blood tests, imaging tests(X-rays, MRI, and bone scan), and bone biopsy(For checking the bacteria in the bone sample).
The treatment isn’t similar for all the patients. Doctors prescribe different medications and treatments based on the symptoms, the child’s age, and other health complications.
However, if you’d like to know about the typical treatment procedure, here’s what it looks like.
- A specialist treats your child.
- The doctor gives you an antibiotic to your vein via an intravenous line.
- Your child should intake a few medicines for at least 4 to 6 days. Sometimes, the medicine consumption lasts for a few weeks based on the child’s condition.
- And then the doctor gives you oral medicines and other treatments to relieve pain.
- If the infection still exists, the doctor conducts surgery and removes the infected tissue(Usually, it’s a rare case).
Are There Any Complications Due To Osteomyelitis?
Usually, strong antibiotics eliminate osteomyelitis in children. However, in very rare cases, the child may be prone to chronic osteomyelitis as the infection perhaps lasts for a longer period.
What Else Should I Know About Osteomyelitis?
Contact the experts if your child has extreme tiredness, business, or a high fever over 100.4F. It’s better to contact the doctor if you see any of the above-mentioned osteomyelitis symptoms.
Always confirm the reason for the hospital visit from the healthcare providers. List out the various questions and ask the doctor without any hesitation. After all, it’s all about your child’s health. Know whether there is an alternative for the treatment or not.
One of the most important questions to ask your doctor is how to contact them after office hours in case of an emergency.
