PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Osteomyelitis is a frightening term and it
probably lives up to the fear. In simplest terms, osteomyelitis
is an infection in the bones and usually starts somewhere else
in the body or in the blood stream. In adults the symptoms can
start out vague: a fever or fatigue and pain in a certain area.
There is not always a red hot and infected area as is the case
with many infections. It often takes an x-ray, special scans or
an MRI for doctors to make the diagnosis. Treatment is long and
requires iv antibiotics. Before the development of these
antibiotics this was a killer and many people had to have
infected areas amputated. Today there are still major concerns
and the health of patients relies on diagnosis and sustained
treatment. Reported By Dr. Brian McDonough, KYW Newsradio
Medical Editor