Intervertebral disc space inflammation in children

Abstract

Discitis in children commonly presents with fever, back pain, irritability, and an inability to walk. An elevated ESR and characteristic changes on plain X-rays or bone scan are sufficient for diagnosis, but MRI is more sensitive and more specific, and it shows pathologic changes earlier. Intravenous antibiotics are administered when cultures of the disc space are positive, but in more than half of the cases, no organism can be grown. Symptoms are alleviated with bed-rest or external orthoses, but neither the duration nor the kind of symptomatic treatment influences outcome.