What is it?

Osteomyelitis is swelling of the bone. It happens when germs (bacteria) spreads from the blood stream to the bone. When it gets into the bone it causes an infection. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common germ involved. The germ could get in through a small skin infection, a cold, or a bad injury. This happens more often in the lower limbs and in young children under the age of 5 years.

Signs of sickness from this germ might be:

  • pain, swelling or redness of the concerned region,
  • less movement of the concerned limb,
  • a high temperature

Children can become sick very quickly. Action to treat the germs might involve antibiotics through a drip for a long time. If the antibiotics don't work, surgery is an option, but is not common.