Osteomyelitis
Overview
Osteomyelitis is a painful bone infection. It usually goes away if treated early with antibiotics. It can cause serious long-term problems if it's not treated.
Symptoms
Osteomyelitis usually causes severe pain, most often affecting the legs, but it may affect other parts of the body. Other symptoms of osteomyelitis can include: swelling of the affected areaa feeling of warmth on the affected arearedness of the skin in the affected area, which may be harder to see on black or brown skina limp (more common in children)a high temperature
Causes
Bacterial infection (Staphylococcus aureus) in bone. Via blood or injury/surgery. Risk: Diabetes.
Treatment
Osteomyelitis is treated with antibiotics. You may need treatment in hospital, or you might be able to take antibiotics at home. You'll usually take antibiotics for 4 to 6 weeks. If you have a severe infection, you may need to take them for up to 12 weeks. It's important to finish a course of antibiotics even if you start to feel better. If the infection is treated quickly (within 3 to 5 days of it starting), it often clears up completely. You can take painkillers to ease the pain. If the infection is in a long bone (such as an arm or leg), you may be fitted with a splint so you do not move it as often.
Prevention
Clean wounds promptly; manage diabetes (foot care).
When to see a doctor
Go to A&E/GP Urgently if: severe bone pain + fever; swelling/redness over bone.