title: Bone and joint infections.
abstract: An acute osteoarticular infection in a child is most often hematogenous. The infection manifests as osteomyelitis or septic arthritis. The most common causative organism is Staphylococcus aureus. Medical advice is usually sought within 2 to 6 days from the onset of symptoms. A child with an osteomyelitis in a lower extremity characteristically presents with limping with or without notable local tenderness, whereas acute septic arthritis is often readily visible because the joint is red, tender, and swollen. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment remain pivotal in avoiding complications in acute bacterial bone and joint infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Turku 20521, Finland. Markus.Paakkonen@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pääkkönen
authors.forename: Heikki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peltola
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D002511:Cephalosporins; D010406:Penicillins; D002097:C-Reactive Protein