Acute Arthritis
aka Bacterial Arthritis
A form of arthritis that is caused by a bacterial infection. All parts of the body are susceptible to this form of arthritis, however, hips, knees, and hands are the most common sites.
Symptoms – May include fever with chills, red, swollen, and painful joints that make movement difficult.
Cause – Acute arthritis is caused by invasion of bacteria (i.e. streptococci or staphylococci) into the joint. The bacteria may spread from an infection elsewhere in the body or on the skin near the joint, or from direct trauma to the joint that allows bacteria to enter.
Diagnosis – Observation of the aforementioned symptoms will be noted and should be evaluated by a physician. The evaluation may include a physical examination, blood tests or analysis of fluids withdrawn from the joint, and/or x-rays.
Treatment – If diagnosed and treated early, the condition is curable with antibiotics (delayed treatment may result in permanent damage to the joint). The joint may have to be immobilized during treatment to promote healing, and physical therapy may be necessary after healing to restore full mobility to the joint.