Recently, children have often been diagnosed with a disease such as osteomyelitis. This is a purulent-necrotic process of an infectious nature that develops in the bones surrounding the soft tissues, bone marrow. Bacteria that produce pus cause this pathology. If this disease takes a chronic form, then there is a high probability of bone deformation of the unformed skeleton of the child.
Osteomyelitis in children most often affects the lower leg, thigh, jaw joints, humerus, vertebra. To protect the baby from the onset of the adverse effects of this disease, the range of factors causing such a pathology should be limited.
Causes of occurrence
This disease is more likely to affect boys than girls. This is due to the fact that they are much more mobile. In addition, odontogenic osteomyelitis in children is also found mainly in boys, since the cause of its development is injuries of the jaw skeleton, which can be obtained in fights or in falls.
Quite often, the cause of the disease in children is such foci of purulent infection as impetigo, otitis media, pyelonephritis, boils, burns, wounds. Abscesses, dental caries, purulent tonsillitis, tonsillitis also lead to the development of osteomyelitis.
Having penetrated the body through damage to the skin, mucous membrane or pharyngeal lymphoid ring, the infection begins to spread through the circulatory system. Most often, the causative agent of osteomyelitis is considered to be the bacteria of Staphylococcus aureus, which is found in 80% of cases. In the remaining 20% of patients, streptococci, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Pfeiffer coli cause pathology. The bacterium enters the body of infants through the umbilical wound.
Not in all cases, the bone is the focus of inflammation. An infection can spread to it from surrounding organs or soft tissues. The reverse situation is quite possible, when the bone marrow is damaged first, and then the adjacent tissues.
Symptoms of the disease
This pathology can manifest itself differently depending on the age of the child, his immunity and the affected bone area. In newborns and children a little older, the disease affects their overall well-being. The child becomes lethargic, he develops nervous anxiety, appetite disappears, fever rises, pallor appears. Often a pathological condition is accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting.
If you observe the child, you can see that he begins to take care of his limb, tries not to touch it and not to move it. The skin of the affected joint is often reddened. After a few days, redness and swelling begin to increase. If treatment is not started immediately, purulent metastases will occur throughout the body.
Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis in older children is manifested in a more pronounced form. The development of inflammation is much slower, and redness and swelling begin to appear only a week after the onset of the disease. If treatment is not started in a timely manner, intermuscular phlegmon may occur, which means that the inflammatory process gradually spreads to the surrounding soft tissues. In this case, surgery is inevitable. With intermuscular phlegmon, at first, an improvement in the condition of the child can be observed, but it is deceptive. Osteomyelitis in children can cause such formidable complications as purulent arthritis and sepsis.
The acute form of the disease in children after a while becomes chronic, the absence of treatment of which leads to death. Therefore, it is so important to timely diagnose this pathology and begin its treatment.
Features of odontogenic osteomyelitis
This type of pathology has its own characteristics. Pus begins to stand out from the gums and canals of the teeth, and the soft tissues of the face swell. The skin and mucous membrane are pale and dry, fever rises, chills and general weakness appear. In young children, convulsions, vomiting, and indigestion are noted. This indicates that the central nervous system begins to become irritated, as severe intoxication of the body develops. Odontogenic osteomyelitis of the jaw in children is protracted.
Features of the chronic form
This form of pathology is primary and secondary. The latter is characterized by remissions and exacerbations, alternating among themselves. During remission, the child does not complain about anything, but when the exacerbation begins, an increase in temperature is observed, pain appears on palpation. Perhaps the opening of the fistula with the formation of pus. Such periods can last for years, while the kidneys, liver and heart are affected.
Chronic osteomyelitis in primary children occurs without an exacerbation phase, and the onset of the disease has blurred symptoms. Minor painful sensations do not have a clear localization. Most often, parents bring children to the hospital only when pain intensifies or severe symptoms appear.
Diagnostics
It is very important to correctly diagnose this disease, since its symptoms strongly resemble rheumatism, purulent arthritis, Ewing's sarcoma.
At the very beginning of its development, bone osteomyelitis in children has symptoms that may cause a doctor to suspect a malignant infection. Only a correctly diagnosed diagnosis contributes to competent treatment, which guarantees a successful prognosis.
Disease treatment
If a pathology such as osteomyelitis (children) has arisen, treatment should be carried out with the participation of a pediatrician, radiologist and other specialists. Most often, antibiotics are prescribed for this and surgery is performed.
Antibiotics should be used as soon as possible. First, a shock dose of these drugs is given to the child in order to stop the inflammation. Most often, penicillin group preparations are prescribed for these purposes. Antibiotics should be taken for a long time, sometimes the course of treatment can last three months. The dose must be reduced gradually. At the same time, the child should be given drugs for thrush, because antibiotics destroy the microflora. Surgery may sometimes be required. In this case, an abscess is opened, pus is removed and the canal is washed. The operation is fast enough using local anesthesia. Sometimes doctors put drainage to remove fluid.
The main treatment for odontogenic osteomyelitis is surgery, which involves the removal of a tooth, which is the source of infection. Under general anesthesia, an autopsy of the periosteal abscesses is performed. Pus is sown to determine the sensitivity of microflora to antibiotics. During surgery, the wound is drained, after which detoxification therapy, antihistamines, antibiotics, calcium preparations, vitamins and non-specific immunomodulators are prescribed. The child should definitely be given to drink as much water as possible and feed him with vegetable and dairy foods.
Complications
Osteomyelitis in children can cause various complications. It can be:
- bone defects;
- arthritis of the extremities;
- as a result of pinching of the spinal cord, the musculoskeletal system is injured;
- if the disease affects the hip joint or children's legs, in advanced cases comes complete immobilization;
- joint instability occurs;
- bone growth is impaired;
- secondary chronic osteomyelitis begins to develop, which subsequently leads to impaired posture;
- there is a destructive dislocation;
- osteomyelitis of the upper jaw, which is often diagnosed in boys, causes the formation of meningitis, which entails changes throughout the body.
Output
Despite the fact that osteomyelitis in children causes quite serious complications, modern medicine is able to successfully treat this formidable disease, guaranteeing the most favorable prognosis. According to statistics, deaths are becoming less and less every year. Parents should be more attentive to the health of their children, make sure that no infection gets into their injuries and wounds, and consult a doctor in a timely manner.