Osteomyelitis
The most common signs of osteomyelitis are bone pain and a high temperature.
Most cases of acute osteomyelitis involve one of the long bones in the legs. However, sometimes the bones in the arm or in the back (the vertebrae) can be affected.
The symptoms of acute osteomyelitis include:
In teenagers and adults, these symptoms tend to develop within a few weeks of an injury or accident, such as a broken bone.
Young children who cannot talk may be unable to report their painful symptoms to you. You should look out for the following signs:
In cases of chronic osteomyelitis, you are likely to experience similar symptoms to a previous infection.
Once chronic osteomyelitis is established, the person affected may have periods of almost no symptoms. However, symptoms can flare up at any time. For example, you may experience:
You should always visit your GP if you or your child develops a high temperature (fever) and persistent bone pain, or if you are worried about symptoms in a very young child.
Osteomyelitis is the medical term for a bone infection, usually caused by bacteria.
The most common signs of osteomyelitis are bone pain and a high temperature.
Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone that is usually caused by bacteria.
Osteomyelitis is diagnosed based on a physical examination and tests including blood tests, imaging tests and a biopsy
Osteomyelitis is usually treated with antibiotics, although surgery may also be used in severe cases.
It is not always possible to prevent osteomyelitis, but there are steps you can take to reduce your chances of developing the condition.