Infectious Arthritis – Part 1 - Health Plus Digest

Arthritis is the medical term used to describe over 100 different conditions that cause an inflammatory response in the musculoskeletal system. Infectious Arthritis is one of those. Also referred to as Septic Arthritis, it is an infection in the fluid in tissues of the joints that is usually caused by bacteria, but sometimes may be triggered by viruses or fungi. (1)

Infectious arthritis can happen to people of any age, sex or gender. Infants can also be affected by infectious arthritis when an infection settles in one of their joints. Generally, younger children do not move the infected joints because moving or touching it is painful. Younger children may refuse to walk and older children and adults will find that the symptoms began over several hours or a few days. (2)

The infected joint becomes red and warm and moving it or touching it is very painful. Fluid will collect in the joint and cause it to swell and stiffen. Individuals can also suffer from fever and chills. People who suffer from a more chronic infectious arthritis that’s caused by mycobacteria will have less dramatic symptoms.

The joints that are most commonly infected are the knee, shoulder, wrist, hip, elbow and fingers. Most of the time infectious arthritis will affect only one joint. People who are at risk are those who have abnormal joints because of arthritic damage or who develop an infection that reaches their bloodstream. For example, an older individual, who has an infection in their bloodstream can fall and injure their knee. Bleeding from the knee results in an infectious arthritis because the blood enters the joint space. A joint can also be infected directly if it is contaminated during surgery or from an injury.

The most likely bacteria to cause an infected joint will depend upon the individual’s age. For instance, researchers know that infected infants and children will experience staphylococci infections while gonococci and streptococci most often infect older children and adults. Viruses, such as HIV, parvovirus and hepatitis B, can infect the joints the people of any age.

References:

(1) PubMed Health: Septic Arthritis

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001466/

(2) MedlinePlus: Septic Arthritis

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000430.htm

Resources:

MayoClinic: Septic Arthritis

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bone-and-joint-infections/DS00545