Thursday, June 13, 2013

Acute Arthritis - How To Prevent Permanent Joint Damage


Acute arthritis is also known as Bacterial Arthritis and as the name would indicate, it is 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 to suffer an acute arthritis attack. This article shares the symptoms, cause, and how this condition is diagnosed. It will also share what treatment is needed to avoid permanent damage to your joints.

Acute Arthritis

Symptoms - Symptoms of this condition may include the onset of a fever with chills. A person afflicted with this form of arthritis may also notice red, swollen, and painful joints that make movement difficult.

Cause - Acute arthritis is caused by an 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. In some cases, direct trauma to the joint may allow bacteria to enter and cause damage.

Diagnosis - Observation of the aforementioned symptoms will be noticed and should be evaluated by a physician. The evaluation may include a physical examination, blood tests or analysis of fluids withdrawn from the joint. In some cases x-rays of the joint will be taken to further evaluate the situation.

Treatment - If diagnosed and treated early, this condition is curable with antibiotics. If treatment is delayed, this 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.

Acute arthritis can develop quickly, often within hours or days and can be seen in children or adults. The condition can cause moderate to severe pain in the joint that is effected. Prompt medical attention is needed to prevent permanent damage to the joint.

No comments:

Post a Comment