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Diskitis

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment

Alternative Names:

Disk inflammation

Treatment:

The goal is to treat the cause of the inflammation and reduce pain. Anti-staphylococcal antibiotics may be given in cases of suspected infections. Auto-immune diseases are often treated with anti-inflammatory medications.

Resistant cases may be treated with steroids, although the diagnosis of infection should be excluded first. Pain may be relieved with oral pain killers ( analgesics ) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS); consult your health care provider for the best choice of medications.

Bed rest or immobilization (which may require a body cast) may be recommended in some cases.

Expectations (prognosis):

With infectious causes, full recovery following treatment is expected and chronic back pain related to this condition is very rare. For auto-immune causes, the outcome depends on the particular condition, but these are often chronic illnesses.

Complications:

• Persistent back pain (rare)
• Side effects of medications

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if your child has persistent back pain or problems with standing and walking that seem unusual for his or her age.

• Review Date: 10/23/2006
• Reviewed By: Thomas N. Joseph, MD, Private Practice specializing in Orthopaedics, subspecialty Foot and Ankle, Camden Bone & Joint, Camden, SC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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