Osteomyelitis is a serious bone infection that occurs primarily in children between ages five and nine, although it can appear in infants and teenagers as well. The infection that causes osteomyelitis often begins in another part of the body and spreads to the bone via the bloodstream.
In children, osteomyelitis typically appears in the long bones. If untreated, the infection can damage the bones and joints, interfering with growth and causing permanent disability. If a joint is infected, the condition is called “pyogenic arthritis.” If the bone tissue dies as a result of the lost blood supply, it may lead to a chronic infection that can persist intermittently for years. Osteomyelitis typically affects two out of every 10,000 people.
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