What is Septic arthritis?
Septic arthritis, also called infectious arthritis, it is an infection of a joint by bacteria. Its commonest forms occur after a lung or skin infection, surgery on the joint or any of several venereal diseases. The condition is typically acute, causing severe joint pain, inflammation, redness, and in some cases fever and chills but may also become chronic. Septic arthritis may affect any joint but is most frequently found in the knee, hip, shoulder, wrist, elbow, and finger joints. Usually only one joint will be affected but, in some cases, there may be more than one.
The following may increase your risk factors:
- Artificial joint implants
- Bacterial infection
- Chronic illness or disease
- Intravenous (IV) drug abuse
- Medications that suppress the immune system
- Recent joint trauma
- Recent joint arthroscopy or other surgery
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Sickle cell disease
Symptoms in children and adults:
- Intense joint pain
- Joint swelling
- Joint redness
- Unable to move the limb with the infected joint
- Low-grade fever
- Fever
- Shaking chills
Warmth in the area of the affected joint
The joints of your arms and legs are most commonly affected by septic arthritis. In rare cases other joints, such as those in your back, neck and head, may be affected.
