Infectious Arthritis Symptoms

In the case of infectious arthritis, symptoms of the disease may differ depending on the type of infectious arthritis involved. For instance, in addition to severe joint pain, people with septic arthritis may also experience fever, cold sweats, chills, extreme tiredness, and lack of appetite. People with viral forms of infectious arthritis are more likely to experience arthritis in the small joints of the wrist and hand. Symptoms of infectious arthritis caused by a fungus generally affect the knee and progress slowly.

 

An Overview of Infectious Arthritis Symptoms

Infectious arthritis is a general term used to describe forms of arthritis caused by an infection. There are several types of infectious arthritis. The most common type is septic arthritis, or arthritis caused by certain types of bacteria. Other types of infectious arthritis include:
 
  • Gonococcal arthritis
  • Tuberculosis arthritis
  • Fungal arthritis
  • Viral arthritis
  • Lyme arthritis.
     
The specific symptoms of infectious arthritis (along with their severity) will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • The age of the person
  • The joint or joints involved
  • The type of infectious arthritis (e.g., septic, viral, or fungal)
  • Other conditions the person may have.
     

Infectious Arthritis Symptoms: Septic Arthritis

Specific symptoms of septic arthritis may include:
 
  • Severe pain within a joint. When septic arthritis develops in the hip, pain may be referred to the buttock, thigh, or knee
  • Swollen and/or hot joint
  • Decreased movement of the joint
  • A noticeable limp
  • Other common symptoms consistent with a bacterial infection, such as fever, cold sweats, chills, extreme tiredness, and lack of appetite.
 
Infants with septic arthritis may not have any localized joint pain, instead presenting with fever and irritability. Others may have very mild symptoms that can delay diagnosis for several months. This is more common in people with a history of a knee replacement or hip replacement.
 
(Click Septic Arthritis Symptoms for more information.)
 
(Infectious Arthritis Symptoms Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD