What it means?
It means infection involving any joint. This can occur in any joint but most commonly seen in hip joint. The next common joint to get affected is knee joint.
What causes it?
The baby can have source of infection anywhere in the body. The bacteria can enter blood stream and enter the joint and causes joint infection. Also, the infection in the bone or muscles around a joint or from direct injury can spread to the joint and results in joint infection.
If infection not treated quickly, can cause severe damage to the cartilage in the joint which in turn causes growth and arthritis problems in the future
How child will present like?
- Baby will be having fever, sick look, inability to walk due to pain
- Baby will have swelling, redness, pain over the affected joint
- Baby may also have other symptoms like chills, poor appetite, poor energy, irritability
- Baby will not allow to move the affected limb
What are the test required?
- Careful clinical assessment of the baby to localize which joint affected and range of movements possible in that joint, any redness, swelling over the joint, general condition of the baby
- Blood test like total WBC count, CRP, ESR, blood culture to isolate the causative organism
- X-ray of the affected limb to check any infection in bones or any fracture
- Ultrasound scan helps to evaluate the swollen joint
- MRI gives better picture about the status of bones, joints and muscles, extent of infection
What are the treatment options?
- Infection of the joint is an emergency condition which need to be diagnosed at the earliest and treated immediately. If failed to treat can cause severe damage to the joint
- Treatment includes open the infected joint and wash out the infected materials, infected materials will also be sent for culture and sensitivity to detect which organism is the reason for this infection. After thorough wash the bone and joint were inspected to assess the severity of damage, then small drain will be kept inside the joint in order to drain the remnant collection inside the joint
- Antibiotics play an important role in the treatment of septic arthritis. Initially the baby will be started on antibiotics which cover many bacteria. Once the culture finds out the causative organism, the antibiotics are changed to focus on those bacteria. To start with antibiotics will be given through IV injections. Lab tests were done to monitor how the baby responds to treatment. Once baby shows good response the antibiotics can be switched from IV injections to oral medications
What will be outcome?
- If the septic arthritis diagnosed and treated early can save the joint and the baby will recover completely
- If left untreated, infection will damage the affected joint and result in growth disturbances and arthritis in the future
- All these children require long term monitoring to assess for any recurrence or growth disturbances