Causes and Complications of Osteomyelitis

Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone. The bone can acquire an infection from nearby tissues or the infection can travel from a distant site to the bone through the bloodstream. Some people in Mason who have osteomyelitis do not have any symptoms. The symptoms of osteomyelitis include fever and chills and the area that is affected feels warmer than the surrounding areas. The condition also presents with fatigue.

Mason, joint pain

The severity of the symptoms varies in different people and sometimes these symptoms can be non-specific and mimic symptoms of other diseases. In Mason, joint pain can be caused by osteomyelitis occurring in the joint, especially in elderly people or after trauma to a joint. If you have any of the symptoms of osteomyelitis, it is important to see a doctor who will take your medical history and examine you to come up with a diagnosis. The doctor will also order some laboratory tests and prescribe treatment for you.

Given below are some of the factors that can cause osteomyelitis:

1.  Bacterial Infection

Osteomyelitis is mostly caused by the staphylococcus bacteria. These bacteria can travel from the lungs or other areas in the urinary tract through the bloodstream to a part of the bone. These bacteria can also reach your bone after an injury to the overlying skin or after you get an open bone fracture. Sometimes these bacteria can also reach the bone during surgery of the bone if sterile conditions were not maintained in surgery.

2. Disorders of the Circulatory System

The blood contains white blood cells that fight infections and this helps in the healing of wounds. If you have a problem with blood supply where your blood vessels are affected by diabetes, arterial disease, or even sickle cell anemia, the blood supply to an area of injury will be interrupted. This can delay the healing of ulcers because there are no blood cells to support healing. This can make an infection spread from the skin to the bone.

3. The Use of Intravenous Catheters or Lines

When you have a severe infection, the doctor can recommend that you get intravenous medications. These help to promote faster healing. However, the devices that are used to deliver these medications may be contaminated with bacteria that can cause osteomyelitis. Some of these instruments include urinary catheters and the tubes that are used in dialysis.

4. Having a Weak Immune System

When your immunity is weak, your body will be unable to fight the infections and you may be at risk of osteomyelitis. Some of the conditions that can weaken your immunity system include HIV, or using medications that attack your immune system like chemotherapy and corticosteroids. Your immunity can also be weak if you have diabetes that is poorly controlled.

5. Sharing Sharps

You can introduce infections to your bones if you share needles. This is most common for people who inject illicit drugs. They mostly share needles because they cannot afford new ones. These people rarely sterilize their skin before injecting the drugs.

In summary, osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone that presents with fever, fatigue, and pain in the affected area. The infection can reach the bone from the bloodstream. Other causes of osteomyelitis include using infected catheters, having cardiovascular diseases, and sharing needles. It is important to seek treatment for the condition to restore bone function.