Which joints can be affected?
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The knee is the site of infection in more than half of cases. The hip is affected in about 1 in 5 cases. The rest are usually the shoulder, wrist, elbow and ankle. Other joints are rarely affected. In most cases, just one joint is affected. However, in about 1 in 5 cases the bacteria from one joint spread in the blood to another, and two or more joints may be affected at the same time.
What are the symptoms of septic arthritis?
- Pain from the affected joint. The pain tends to be severe and usually develops quite quickly. Any movement of the joint is usually very painful.
- Swelling usually develops over the affected joint which is usually very tender.
- Redness of the overlying skin is typical if the joint is near to the skin surface.
- Feeling generally unwell with fever (high temperature) is common.
In most cases of septic arthritis the symptoms develop quickly, within a few days. However, with an infection in an artificial joint the symptoms may not be so dramatic and pain and fever may be mild at first before gradually becoming worse. Also, in cases caused by the TB bacterium (tuberculosis) the symptoms may develop more slowly.
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