Resumen

NOGUERA VALVERDE, Ronald Armando. Acute osteomyelitis in children. Rev Cubana Pediatr [online]. 2008, vol.80, n.1, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-3119.

INTRODUCTION. Acute osteomyeliltis is a bone infection that affects mainly children and it generally has hematogenous dissemination, sometimes associated with trauma. Factors such as age, the immunological state and concomitant diseases influence on the aetiology. In most of the cases, the main aetiological agent is Staphylococcus aureus. An opportune diagnosis is important to prevent sequelae on medium and long term. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological characteristics of a group of patients with acute osteomyelitis. METHODS. A retrospective review of the medical histories of the patients that had been discharged from the infectology service of the National Children Hospital with diagnosis of acute osteomyelitis, in Costa Rica, from August 1994 to January 1995, was made. RESULTS. 49 discharges were registered and data from 35 patients were tabulated. 65 % were males. Mean age was 7 ± 342 years old and the length of hospital stay was10.31 ± 5.55 days. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 28 % of the cases. Haemophilus influenzae was isolated in one case (3 %), in blood (hemoculture +). No germen was isolated in 57 % of the cases. The affected anatomical sites were mainly the tibia (26 %), the femur (20 %) and the calcaneous (17 %). Oxacillin was used in the treatment of 30 of the 35 patients (86 %), whereas amikacine was administered in 61 % of the cases. In the S. aureus strains, it was found a resistance to oxacillin of 7 %. CONCLUSIONS. The findings were similar to those reported in literature as regards etiology, affected anatomical site and antibiotic coverage. The clinician must suspect an acute osteomyelitis in every child with pain, bone pain and inflammation with functional affectation, whether it appeared spontaneously or associated with trauma to have an opportune diagnosis and an efficient treatment.

Palabras clave : Acute osteomyelitis; children; aetiology; diagnosis; antibiotic sensitivity test.

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