title: The changing epidemiology of osteomyelitis in children.
abstract: We reviewed 275 cases and calculated the prevalence of bacteriologically or radiologically confirmed acute haematogenous osteomyelitis in children under 13 resident in Greater Glasgow during 1970 to 1990. In the 20-year period there was a fall of over 50%, mainly involving cases of long-bone infection, and those due to Staphylococcus aureus. There was a reduced incidence of complications. The proportion of cases involving long bones decreased from 84% to 57%, and those of Staphylococcus aureus infection from 55% to 31%. These changes, in what is becoming a rare disease, need to be known to ensure early diagnosis and adequate treatment, particularly of subacute non-staphylococcal infection at unusual sites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow, Scotland.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Craigen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Watters
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hackett
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D013997:Time Factors