Related Experiment Videos

A child with septic arthritis of hip: a rarely encountered cause

A R Abdul Halim1, Y Norhamdan, R Ramliza

  • 1Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. drhalimrashid@yahoo.com

The Medical Journal of Malaysia
|November 24, 2011
PubMed

Insights

A rare case of septic arthritis in a healthy child caused by Salmonella enteritidis was successfully treated with antibiotics. The child recovered fully within a year, showing no lasting negative effects.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Rheumatology

Background:

  • Septic arthritis is a serious joint infection, often requiring prompt medical intervention.
  • While common in infants, it is rare in healthy children without predisposing factors.

Observation:

  • A healthy child presented with septic arthritis.
  • No underlying risk factors for infection were identified.
  • Salmonella enteritidis was identified as the causative pathogen in joint tissue samples.

Findings:

  • Surgical drainage of the infected joint was performed.
  • A 6-week course of antibiotics, guided by culture and sensitivity, was administered.
  • The patient demonstrated a dramatic clinical improvement.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the possibility of Salmonella enteritidis causing septic arthritis in healthy children.
  • Early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic therapy are crucial for favorable outcomes.
  • Complete recovery without long-term complications is achievable with timely treatment.

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction01:22

Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction

Bacterial meningitis is a severe, life-threatening inflammation of the meninges, particularly the pia mater and arachnoid mater, affecting the subarachnoid space, ventricles, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If untreated, it can lead to significant neurological complications or death.Causative AgentsCommon pathogens vary with age and immune status. In adults, major organisms include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae. Streptococcus agalactiae (group B...
Acute Pyelonephritis I: Introduction01:27

Acute Pyelonephritis I: Introduction

Pyelonephritis is a bacterial infection that primarily affects the renal parenchyma and collecting system, including the renal pelvis, tubules, and interstitial tissue of one or both kidneys. It can be classified as either acute—a sudden, severe infection—or chronic, which refers to long-term or recurrent kidney infections.The primary cause of acute pyelonephritis (APN) is bacterial infection, with Escherichia coli accounting for approximately 70-80% of cases. Other bacteria, such as Proteus,...
Brain Abscess l: Introduction01:26

Brain Abscess l: Introduction

A brain abscess is a focal, intracerebral infection characterized by a localized collection of pus within the brain parenchyma, resulting from microbial invasion and the body’s inflammatory response. It progresses through stages: early and late cerebritis, followed by early and late capsule formation, reflecting tissue destruction, immune response, and eventual encapsulation.Etiology and PathogenesisCausative organisms vary with source and host factors, often involving polymicrobial infections,...
Endocarditis I: Introduction01:25

Endocarditis I: Introduction

Introduction:Endocarditis is the infection of the endocardium, the inner lining of the heart and its valves. When the heart muscle is involved, the condition is termed myocarditis, while an infection of the outer lining is called pericarditis. Infective endocarditis (IE) primarily affects the endocardium, where pathogens adhere to the valves or lining, forming vegetation that can lead to severe complications. Infective endocarditis occurs when microorganisms, usually bacteria from other body...
Encephalitis l: Introduction01:19

Encephalitis l: Introduction

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma, most often due to infections or autoimmune processes. It presents with neuropsychiatric features such as fever, altered mental status, behavioral changes, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, focal deficits, and sometimes autonomic instability. In some cases, the meninges are also involved, resulting in meningoencephalitis.Infectious CausesInfectious encephalitis is most commonly viral but can also result from bacterial, fungal, or parasitic...
Pneumonia I: Introduction01:29

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an infection of the lower respiratory tract that leads to inflammation of the lung parenchyma, often resulting in the accumulation of inflammatory exudate in the alveoli and airways. Unlike the watery, low-protein fluid exudate in pulmonary edema, the exudate in this case is a thick fluid rich in immune cells, proteins, and debris produced during infection and inflammation.This impairs gas exchange and can lead to consolidation of lung tissue. The infection may be caused by a...