Tuberculosis of bones and joints: causes, symptoms, treatment

Tuberculosis of bones and joints is a disease caused by the activity of microbacteria, often - Koch sticks. Infection leads to the defeat of bones, abundantly provided with a vascular network and containing a spongy substance. The disease manifests itself in the formation of abscesses, fistulas, impaired mobility and even in the complete destruction of the joint. The defeat of the spinal infection leads to the curvature of the back, the appearance of the hump, in severe cases - paralysis of the limbs.

Phases and forms of the disease

Tuberculosis of bones and joints in its current passes through three phases: preartritic (primary osteitis), arthritic (secondary arthritis) and postartritic (consequences and relapses of arthritis).

The disease is classified according to localization. Allocate tuberculosis:

• Knee joints, called gonitis;
• Hip joints, which is called a coxite (more common in children and in the absence of timely treatment leads to dislocation and deformation of the joint);
• Ankle joints and foot bones (often causes immobility of the joint as a result of the fusion of the surfaces);
• Shoulder joints, called omartrite (it is rare enough);
• Wrist joints (also rarely found, can be combined with the pathology of knee joints);
• Elbow joints, it is called a venison (if left untreated, fraught with fistula and abscesses);
• Tubular bones (is extremely rare, begins to develop as early as childhood, usually affecting the metacarpal bones and phalanges of the hand).

Ways of transmission and causes of illness

As already noted, tuberculosis of bones and joints causes a tubercle bacillus entering the body in every possible way . Most often, infection occurs as a result of close communication with a sick person. When he coughs or sneezes, sputum particles containing a large number of pathogens enter the external environment. Microbes can also enter the body through unwashed hands or with food, after which they instantly spread with blood flow to all organs and tissues, including bones and joints.

But even if microbacteria get into the body, this does not mean that you will become ill with tuberculosis. If there is a strong immunity, the microbes will not be able to harm you, because the defenses will duly curtail the development of the disease. However, if your immunity is weak due to unfavorable living conditions or recent illnesses, tuberculosis, most likely, will not be avoided. That is why pathology is most often found in children, because their body does not yet have resistance to many infections. Contribute to the disease can often overload the motor apparatus, trauma, severe hypothermia, recurrence of existing diseases.

Tuberculosis of bones and joints: symptoms

Identify the disease at an early stage is difficult, because at first it develops without any characteristic signs. Many people think that the process can begin after a fall or a strong blow, but it is not. Such an impact can not cause tuberculosis, but can only provoke the activation of a tubercle focus that already exists in the bone, that is, it serves as a trigger mechanism for the intensive development of the disease, which previously remained unnoticed. As already mentioned, the disease is more likely to affect children. Carefully watching the child, you can still see signs of tuberculosis at an early stage. Usually the child becomes listless, does not want to participate in active games, quickly becomes tired. Such symptoms can mean that your child develops tuberculosis of bones and joints. Photos allow you to see and external manifestations of the incipient disease: stoop appears, shoulders rise up. The baby may begin to limp or clum. In adults, signs are not expressed at an early stage of the disease. There may be slight pain in the back, a decrease in working capacity, but few people pay attention to it. When the tuberculosis of bones and joints passes into the second phase of the flow, the pains increase significantly, the mobility of the joints decreases, the movements become chained. You can notice the swelling of the affected areas, the atrophy of soft tissues. Clear signs of the disease are a shortening of the limb, the formation of abscesses, exhaustion of muscles.

Treatment

The treatment process is very long. Therapy includes the use of anti-tuberculosis drugs that inhibit the growth of microbacteria and thereby contribute to a more rapid attenuation of the painful process. Surgical methods can be used to restore the motor functions of the affected limbs.