clinical features

Last reviewed 01/2018

The four cardinal symptoms and signs of acute ostemyelitis are:

  • pain
  • fever
  • inflammation
  • acute tenderness

Antibiotics therapy may modify this presentation.

Notably, the radiographs are normal for the first 10 days.

Special characteristics of acute osteomyelitis in three subgroups are described:

  • children
  • neonates
  • adults