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Septic arthritis - Symptom

Alternative Names

Bacterial arthritis; Non-gonococcal bacterial arthritis

Symptoms:

Symptoms usually come on quickly, with joint swelling, intense joint pain, and low-grade fever.

Symptoms in newborns or infants:

Cries when infected joint is moved (example: diaper change causes crying if hip joint is infected)
Irritability
Fever
Unable to move the limb with the infected joint (pseudoparalysis)

Symptoms in children and adults:

Inability to move the limb with the infected joint (pseudoparalysis)
Intense joint pain
Joint swelling
Joint redness
Low-grade fever

Chills may occur, but are uncommon.

Signs and tests:

Reviewed last on: 5/30/2009
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Espinoza LR. Infections of bursae, joints, and bones. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier. 2007: chap 290.

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