Episode 187: Septic Joint in Children

We discuss the diagnosis and management of septic arthritis in the pediatric population.

Hosts:
Brian Gilberti, MD
Ellen Duncan, MD

Download 2 Comments Tags: Infectious Diseases, Pediatrics Show Notes

• General

  • Pain in joint for pediatric patient has a broad differential, including transient synovitis and septic arthritis

  • Transient synovitis, also known as toxic synovitis, is a common condition affecting kids aged 3-10 and often occurs after a viral infection. It is typically self-limiting and not considered a serious condition.

  • Septic arthritis is an infection in the joint space, typically affecting only one joint. It is often difficult to diagnose due to the fact that many patients, particularly under the age of 3, may not be able to localize their pain to a specific joint.

• Workup

  • Diagnostic work-up for septic arthritis begins with blood work, which includes a complete blood count (CBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and blood cultures. Lyme disease studies may also be necessary since Lyme disease can cause joint pain.

  • Patients with transient synovitis typically have mild elevation in inflammatory markers,