Know How to Look for the Symptoms of Septic Arthritis

A painful problem for children often goes unnoticed. It's called septic arthritis and it can start when something as simple as a cold weakens a child's immune system.<br><br>18-months-old Logan

Tuesday, February 15th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A painful problem for children often goes unnoticed. It's called septic arthritis and it can start when something as simple as a cold weakens a child's immune system.

18-months-old Logan Schovanec is on track when it comes to being able to name farm animals. But just a few months ago, a serious obstacle stood in the way of his development. â€œHe had walked for a good month, and then he started limping, and we knew something was wrong,â€ said the boyâ€™s mother Lisa Schovanec. â€œHe would not put any pressure on that leg."

After a year with no major illnesses, the Schovanecs were shocked when their only child stopped walking. They were even more frightened when the boy had to be hospitalized.
"We were there at the hospital for a week, and then we were home on an IV for 2-and-a-half weeks,â€ Mrs. Schovanec said. It was very scary."

After a week of tests, doctors still couldn't figure out what was wrong with the young Schovanec. That is until a cat scan turned up some unusual results. â€œWhat we actually do is inject into the hip, thereby we're able to contrast and see a difference, said Hillcrest Medical Centerâ€™s Dr. Steven C. Anagnost. â€œWe then look to see if there's a lot of what we call synovitis."

Synovitis affects the cells that help to keep joints lubricated. If they become infected, as in Logan's case, the result could be crippling. What we don't want to do is have it go from a synovitis picture, which is early on, to a septic hip where the organisms actually can get inside and eat away at the cartilage or the smooth surface," said Anagnost.

That's why Anagnost says it's important to pay attention to symptoms, especially during the cold and flu season. Watch your child for chills and fever, redness, swelling or tenderness around a joint, and pain. The pain is often throbbing, and it worsens with movement. The Schovanecs acted quickly, so doctors don't expect septic arthritis to affect their little boyâ€™s future. Doctors say Loganâ€™s is expected to make a full recovery.