Septic Haemophilus influenzae polyarthritis demonstrated best with Tc-99m HMPAO labeled leukocytes

A 5-year-old girl with fever and tenderness in her left wrist and right ankle was hospitalized. Bone scanning and Tc-99m labeled leukocyte imaging showed increased uptake in these joints and also in her left knee. These radionuclide methods helped determine the diagnosis and were superior to plain radiography and CT scanning. Uptake was greater on leukocyte imaging than it was on the bone scan. The patient had infectious polyarthritis caused by Haemophilus influenzae, which is a very rare cause of acute polyarthritis in children older than 2 years. The patient fully recovered with antibiotic therapy, and no surgical procedure was needed.