Joints are joints between two or more bones, between a bone and cartilage, or between a bone and teeth. They are distributed throughout the body, and there are several types depending on the tissue that makes them up. One of its primary functions is to facilitate a particular movement of the joined parts and avoid friction between them.
These joints are prone to some conditions, including septic arthritis, also known as infectious or bacterial arthritis, which consists of inflammation of the joint due to the invasion and multiplication of infectious agents since this triggers an immune response.
Any joint can be affected, but the most common septic arthritis is in the hip, shoulder, and elbow joints and is frequently exposed to injuries, such as the knee, wrist, and fingers.
Joint swelling from pathogens can develop at any age regardless of gender but is most common during childhood. If it is not treated in time, it could have serious consequences, so in this FastlyHealarticle, we want to inform you all about septic arthritis: causes, symptoms, and treatment.
Table of Contents
Causes of septic arthritis
Many harmful microorganisms cause septic arthritis in the joints, mainly bacteria. Still, it could also be due to viruses and, in some cases, fungi or parasites. This infection can start directly in the joint or be due to spreading the disease to another area of the body.
The most common route is the spread of bacteria or another agent through the bloodstream to the joint and can be transported from any area of the body that is suffering from an infection, such as that caused by:
- Tuberculosis
- Rubella
- Inflammation in the membrane of the heart
- Dental, kidney, and many other conditions.
Another mechanism by which harmful agents can reach the joints is by contiguity, that is, they come from a nearby infection, frequently from one in a bone, but it is also possible that it is from the skin or soft tissues near the joint, What:
- Boils or cellulite.
On the other hand, microorganisms could enter directly through an injury to the joint, especially when the wound is profound; they can also enter when there is surgery or injection into the joint, either because the material was contaminated or due to inadequate disinfection of the area. However, these cases are not very common.
There may be another pathway within the body that causes septic arthritis, but it rarely occurs in exceptional cases. It develops from autoimmune pathologies, whether of bacterial or viral origin. It consists of the fact that the antibodies responsible for destroying the infectious agent mistakenly consider healthy tissue harmful, attacking joint tissue. Likewise, it is possible that the resulting immunological elements, after beating the agents, get to be deposited in the joints, causing septic arthritis.
Some symptoms of septic arthritis
The symptoms of septic arthritis will depend on the degree of infection and what causes it. It can also be accompanied by the condition’s symptoms if it first attacks another area. Likewise, depending on the type of infectious agent, a single joint may be affected, as is the case with bacteria, or in several joints.
In most cases, the signs appear quickly, but in other cases, they can occur gradually. In general, the main symptoms of septic arthritis are:
- Fever is usually mild but may increase.
- I am shaking chills.
- Inflammation in the affected joint.
- Redness of the skin in the common area.
- The sensation of heat in the affected area, there is an increase in local temperature.
- Joint pain and tenderness can be moderate to severe, increasing with movement, and sometimes the pain spreads to other joints.
- Inability to move the muscles near the joint due to pain.
Treatment for septic arthritis
You must go to the doctor if you have joint discomfort since if it is septic arthritis, action should be taken as soon as possible to avoid serious complications. In addition, there is no specific treatment for septic arthritis; it will depend on the health, age of the patient, and degree of infection.
The doctor may recommend drugs according to the infectious agent acting, so the best are antibiotics; for fungi, the antifungals, and viruses, a cure is not usually prescribed beyond those that alleviate the symptoms.
On the other hand, if there is an accumulation of joint fluid or purulent content, it is necessary to drain the common. Generally, it is enough to do it with a needle or a catheter, but surgical intervention is required in severe cases. Failure to suction this fluid can cause irreversible damage to joint function.
It is preferable to remain at rest during treatment, immobilizing the affected joint and occasionally applying cold compresses to relieve pain. When septic arthritis decreases considerably, it is recommended that you attend a specialist to provide physical therapy, strengthening the muscles and exercising the joints to promote their recovery.
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This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Septic Arthritis: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment , we recommend that you enter our Bones, Joints and Muscles category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.