Osteomyelitis in a child: causes, symptoms, treatment

Osteomyelitis is a disease caused by an infection. It manifests itself in the form of inflammation. Thrust, thighs, humerus, vertebrae and jaw joints are more often affected. Osteomyelitis is a purulent-necrotic process that develops in the bone marrow and surrounding soft tissues. Usually, the disease occurs in boys (2 times more often than girls) because of great mobility, fights, injuries, falls.

Why do children's osteomyelitis belong to extremely dangerous diseases?

Osteomyelitis in children (photo external manifestations of the disease can be seen in this article) refers to dangerous diseases. The disease affects the bone marrow. Infection concentrates directly in the bones and externally is almost not manifested. Therefore, diagnosing the disease in children at an early stage is quite difficult, because they can not accurately describe the symptoms and sensations. If acute osteomyelitis in children does not begin to be treated on time, then the deformity of the child's skeleton may occur. This disease can cause disability and severe consequences.

Forms of osteomyelitis

Osteomyelitis is divided into two forms. The first is specific. This is a secondary disease that is caused by bacteria after tuberculosis, syphilis or brucellosis. But in children it is rare. The second form is nonspecific. It arises because of purulent cocci and microbes.

Kinds

Osteomyelitis in a child can be of several types:

• Hematogenous. It is provoked by microorganisms penetrating into the bone tissue through the bloodstream. There is an acute and chronic form. The second is when the inflammation lasts more than four months. The chronic form is divided into two subspecies. Primary osteomyelitis, in which there are no clear symptoms. And secondary - as a consequence of acute hematogenous form.
• Non-hematogenous (otherwise - exogenous or post-traumatic). It occurs due to injuries, fractures, gunshot wounds, inflammation of bone tissue.
• Odontogenic. This is an inflammation of the jaw bones . The disease occurs due to dental diseases. In children, jaw tissue is permeated with frequent blood vessels. Therefore, inflammation spreads with great speed. But the recovery of tissues after treatment is not less rapid. This type of osteomyelitis is found mainly in children from three to twelve years old.
• Contact. This is a kind of exogenous osteomyelitis. Occurs when a purulent inflammation passes to the bone from the soft tissues that surround it.

Causes of osteomyelitis

The main causes of osteomyelitis in children are purulent infections and trauma. Often the disease causes:

• otitis;
• furunculosis;
• Pyelonephritis;
• impetigo;
• Burns;
• Fractures;
• Wounds.

In a number of frequent pathogens of the disease there is Staphylococcus aureus. It is found in osteomyelitis in eighty percent of cases. In the remaining twenty percent of patients diagnosed with various sticks (Pfeiffer, intestinal), salmonella and streptococcus. Acute odontogenic osteomyelitis begins because of teeth affected by caries. The culprit is a pathogenic bacterial flora found in pulp and periodontium.

Osteomyelitis in children: symptoms of the disease

The main symptoms of osteomyelitis:

• chills;
• Arthritis of the limbs;
• Edema and redness of lesions;
• Weakness and lethargy;
• rapid pulse;
• Increased pain in the bones;
• High leukocytosis, positive blood culture and leukopenia;
• X-ray images of the initial changes can not be seen, they appear later.

Symptoms of osteomyelitis depend on the affected area of the bone and the age of the child. Newborns are flabby, nervous, suffer from a lack of appetite, they have a high fever. Sometimes vomiting and diarrhea occur.

If you observe the child, you can see how the kid protects the limb (it does not touch objects and tries not to move). The affected area can turn red, sometimes there is swelling. In a few days they increase. If you do not start treatment on time, then the multiplication of purulent metastases will begin.

Older children experience the same symptomatology, but it is more pronounced. Inflammation develops longer, and redness and swelling can be seen only a week after the onset of the disease.

With odontogenic osteomyelitis, pus flows from the dental canals and gums. The teeth that are next to the patient are too mobile. Starts:

• Swelling of the face;
• Skin and mucous pale;
• The temperature rises;
• There is chills and general weakness;
• Babies may experience seizures;
• Vomiting;
• Indigestion.

This is due to strong intoxication of the body. Primary chronic osteomyelitis in the child manifests itself with a lubricated symptomatology. There are small pains, but they do not have a clear localization.

With a secondary chronic form, remission and exacerbation alternate (sometimes over the years). In the first case, the child does not have complaints, in the second case, pain starts with palpation and an increase in temperature. Fistulas can be opened with the release of pus. With this form of disease affects the liver, heart and kidneys.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of the disease is complicated, as hematogenous osteomyelitis in children Can be confused with rheumatism, purulent arthritis or Ewing's sarcoma, the symptoms of which are similar. Sometimes at the first sign of suspicion of a malignant infection.

Methods of treatment

Treatment of osteomyelitis in children is carried out using methods that affect the microorganisms that caused the disease and directly to the affected bone:

• immunotherapy;
• Staphylococcal antifagin, anatoxin, vaccine and bacteriophage are introduced into the skin for loss of reaction to the allergen;
• Vitamin therapy;
• Antibiotics are prescribed;
• Pressure on the bone marrow, its roots and blood vessels is eliminated;
• The pathological formations that squeeze the nerves are removed;
• The affected area is fixed;
• Surgical operations are performed with dissection of the periosteum and exfoliation of the inflamed part from the bone;
• Is installed drainage for the outflow of pus.

Treatment

Osteomyelitis in a child begins with antibiotic treatment. They are important in the early stages of the disease to stop the inflammatory process. In general, drugs containing penicillin are prescribed. The course of treatment is from one to three months. At the same time, medications are prescribed for thrush, because the microflora of the body is broken due to antibiotics and this disease can occur.

Sometimes surgical intervention is necessary. The doctor opens abscesses, flushes the canals from the pus. During surgery, local anesthesia is used. With odontogenic osteomyelitis, the main treatment is a surgical operation. During it, the aching tooth is removed, abscesses are opened, the wounds are drained. Appointed by:

• Disintegration therapy;
• Preparations containing calcium;
• Antihistamines;
• Antibiotics;
• Vitamin complexes;
• Nonspecific immunomodulators;
• Diet (dairy and vegetable food and consumption of large amounts of water).

Osteomyelitis in the child continues to be treated and after the hospital. Outpatient massage and exercise therapy are provided. The sanation of affected areas and balneotherapy is carried out. The child undergoes regular treatment twice a year. During this period desensitizing, laser-, magneto-, and vitamin therapy are carried out. Immunomodulators are used. Electrophoresis and antibiotics are prescribed. Once every six months, an X-ray is done, then for control once a year for three years. The child can be sent to a sanatorium-and-spa treatment.

Prevention

To prevent the development of this disease, you need:

• To observe the correct mode of wakefulness and sleep;
• Adhere to a healthy lifestyle;
• do not be nervous;
• Healthy food;
• Strengthen immunity;
• Regularly undergo a physical examination.

With all sorts of ailments, you should go to the clinic and not engage in self-medication. Eighty percent of all diseases can be cured at an early stage, the main thing is to make a diagnosis on time.