title: Salmonella septic arthritis in Zambian children.
abstract: Thirty-four children under the age of 3 years with septic arthritis presented to Mukinge Hospital between 1 January 1992 and 31 March 1993. Twenty-six of these cultured Salmonella spp. The salmonella group comprised 17 males and 9 females with an average age of 10 months. Most patients were anaemic and all were under 50th centile for weight. The commonest presentation was swelling, pyrexia and non-use of the limb. The mean white cell count (WBC) was 14,000/mm3 and the mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was 15.8 mm/h, but in many cases both the WBC and ESR were normal. All patients were treated with drainage and antibiotics. All made a good recovery and were discharged pain free, apyrexial and using the affected joint. One patient was readmitted because of recurrent infection. Nine patients reviewed after 1 month had continued good function. We consider that malnutrition and local trauma are predisposing factors to the development of salmonella septic arthritis in a population where salmonella is endemic.
authors.affiliation: Mukinge Mission Hospital, Kasempa, Zambia.
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Lavy
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Lavy
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015984:Causality; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012423:Rural Health; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015024:Zambia / Q000453:epidemiology