Causes for Joint Infection, Infectious Arthritis, Septic Arthritis; Bacterial, Viral, Fungal Arthritis Symptoms

Infectious arthritis, aka septic arthritis, is a fluid and tissue joint infection. Typically caused by a bacteria, but at times caused by a virus or fungus.

Infecting bacteria, viruses and fungi usually spread to a joint via the bloodstream or adjacent infected tissue. However, a joint infection can also be a direct result of contamination during surgery, injection or injury.

Usually infectious arthritis involves a single large joint, but several can be invaded simultaneously. The joints most often infected are the knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, wrist and finger joints.

Symptoms indicating septic arthritis are:

Various bacteria can infect a joint, but your age helps narrow the suspects.  The most likely bacteria infecting the joints of infants and children:

Older children and adult bacterial arthritis involve:

Involvement of more than one joint is more common in those with an underlying disease, for example rheumatoid arthritis, or circulating scads of bacteria in their blood.

Viruses that may infect any aged joints causing viral arthritis are comprised of:

Fungal arthritis, aka mycotic arthritis, is a very rare condition and the fungi causing this type of joint pain entail:

Those with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to fungal arthritis.  Slow to develop chronic infectious arthritis is most often caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis or fungi.

Risk of infectious arthritis include those with:

Young children and the elderly are at a higher risk for developing joint infections.

Septic arthritis can lead to joint damage, destruction or the necessity for joint replacement. Therefore, prompt treatment is crucial.

Because an infected joint can be destroyed so quickly, antibiotics are started as soon as infectious arthritis is suspected.  Even before tests pinpoint whether your infection is a bacterial, viral or fungal arthritis.

Joint infections caused by fungi are treated with antifungal drugs.Infectious arthritis caused by a bacteria are treated with a combination of antibiotics. And septic arthritis caused by viruses usually are left untreated, with the recommend of acetaminophen or NSAID for pain and fever.

Routinely, an infected joint is drained to expunge the infection, speed up recovery and reduce the pain. If you suffer from chronic arthritis, sudden pain and swelling in a single joint may indicate an infection. So get with your health care professional ASAP.

Your joint infection outcome depends on its underlying cause and your overall health.  Infection free is a blessing of a healthy lifestyle. On the wise, create this style as a first concern.

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