Septic arthritis is an infection that is very painful on the joints. Bacteria or fungi can spread from other areas in the body into the joint. Sometimes bacteria only infect joints without disturbing other body regions.
In septic arthritis, germs infiltrate into the joint and cause severe pain accompanied by swelling. Usually germs attacking only one joint. The bacteria most commonly affects the knees, although other joints can also be affected, including the hips, ankles, elbows, wrists, and shoulders.
Children and adults are most likely to develop septic arthritis. If treated within a week after the first symptoms appear, most sufferers can completely recover.
Symptom
Septic arthritis usually causes discomfort and difficulty moving the affected joint. Signs and symptoms include:
Fever
Severe pain in affected joints, especially when moving the joint
Swelling of affected joints
Warm in the area affected joints
In children, additional symptoms may include;
Loss of appetite
Fast heartbeat (tachycardia)
Irritable
In adults, septic arthritis most commonly affects the joints of the arms and legs, especially knees. In children, the hip is the joint most likely to be exposed. Children with septic hip arthritis often holding her hips in the same position and trying to avoid rotation of the joints.
Cause
Septic arthritis occurs when there is an infection elsewhere in the body, then spread through the bloodstream to the joints. Puncture wounds, injecting medication or surgery is performed near joints also allow bacteria to enter the joint space.
Lining of the joints (synovium) had little protection from infection. After reaching the synovium, the bacteria can enter easily and begin destroying cartilage. Inflammation, joint pressure increases, and reduced blood flow in the joints is the body's reaction to the bacteria, and it all contributes to joint destruction.
Type of bacteria
Some strains of bacteria can cause septic arthritis. Type that most commonly cause septic arthritis is Staphylococcus aureus (staph), bacteria commonly found on the skin and in the nose.
First, septic arthritis is more often caused by bacteria that cause sexually transmitted disease, gonorrhea. But practice safe sex cause a decrease in gonorrhea and its complications, including septic arthritis. However, in young people who are sexually active, gonorrhea is still potential to cause septic arthritis.
Other causes of infectious
Viruses also can attack joints (viral arthritis), although these disorders usually heal itself and leave little damage to the joints. Joint infection can also be caused by a fungus (fungal arthritis). Another type of arthritis that can be transmitted is a reactive arthritis that causes joint pain in response to an infection elsewhere in the body even though the joint itself is not infected.
Treatments and drugs
Antibiotic Drugs
Clinicians should identify the bacteria causing the infection first, then choose the most effective antibiotic to target bacteria. Antibiotics are usually given through a vein in the arm at first.
Patients could then be switched to oral antibiotics. Duration of treatment depends on the health of antibiotics, the type of bacteria that infect and extent of infection. Typically, treatment lasts about two to six weeks.
Antibiotics risky side effects, namely nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Allergic reactions can also occur. Talk to your doctor about side effects to expect from treatment.
Drainage joint
Synovial fluid draining from the infected joint has three objectives: Eliminate the bacteria from the joints, reducing stress on joints, and got a sample to test for bacteria and other organisms. The most common method is the removal of joint fluid through arthroscopy.
In arthroscopy, a flexible tube with a video camera on the end inserted into the joint through small incisions. Suction drainage tube and then inserted through small incisions around the joint to drain the infected joint fluid.
The hip joint is difficult to access so it may require open surgery to drain the joint fluid. Repetition is sometimes also required surgery.
Recovery
After the infection can be controlled, doctors usually recommend patients do gentle movement to maintain joint function. Movement joints can keep the body from stiffness of joints and muscles. The movement also encourages blood flow and circulation which helps the body's healing process.
Sources: MayoClinic, detik.com
