Childhood Hip Infection

“Catch hip infections early — timely treatment protects your child’s growing joints and lifelong mobility.”

What is a Childhood Hip Infection?

A hip infection in children is caused when germs enter the bone or joint and start multiplying. These germs may be of any kind—virus, bacteria, fungi, or parasites. Human skin normally has bacteria on it. These germs enter the body through different mediums and become the most common cause of bone and joint infections.

According to doctors, a bacterium known as Staphylococcus aureus causes about 9 out of 10 bone and joint infections in children. Such infections, if not treated in time, may result in pain and disabilities. With proper treatment, one may be able to cure all infections leading to serious problems. Hip infections in children are not a common condition. As per stats, only 1 in 3,000 children may catch an infection in or around their hip.

What are the Symptoms of a Hip Infection?

Even though childhood hip infection is not very common, as a parent, you must be watchful about the following symptoms and visit the doctor if your child experiences these symptoms for a long time:

• Pain and swelling around the hips
• Warmth or redness around the hip joints, spreading through other joints
• Unexplained fever and chills accompanied by pain and swelling around the hips
• The child does not want to move the leg
• A child is experiencing difficulty walking around.

How is a Hip Infection Diagnosed?

Upon a visit to a doctor, they examine the physical condition of the child to look for signs of infection. The doctor may ask the child to move their legs to see if they are stiff. In general, the legs should move freely; however, in case of an infection, it becomes difficult to move them properly. The physical evaluation of the child also includes checking for swelling, redness, and inflammation in their hips and joints.

If the doctor suspects infection through physical evaluation, they may order an ultrasound to look for fluid buildup around the hip. X-rays may also be taken to look for the signs of swelling and changes in their bones and joints. If X-rays do not show any sign of infection, the doctor may order an MRI scan. They may also remove fluid from the hip joint with the help of a needle and take this fluid to check for infection or other conditions that may explain the symptoms of the child’s condition, including rheumatoid arthritis (juvenile).

How is a Hip Infection Treated?

The treatment of hip infection depends upon the severity of the infection. The first line of treatment is medicines. In case medication doesn’t show results, the doctor may recommend surgery to drain the infected area.

Medicines for Hip Infection

The doctor will give antibiotics to the child through an intravenous (IV) line to treat the infection. It is recommended to admit the child to the hospital for 4-5 days so that they get the medication constantly. During their stay, the doctor may also order some blood tests. It is usually done to check whether the treatment is working.

Additional tests may be required to check if the child is responding properly to treatment. It includes X-rays, ultrasound, or a CT scan to track the healing, and an MRI scan to monitor the progress.

Surgery for Hip Infection

Surgery is considered when the child doesn’t respond properly to the treatment. A surgeon performs the surgery to drain the infection and stop it from spreading to other parts of the body. During the procedure, the surgeon makes a small cut on the front of the thigh, right below the hip joint. It lets them locate the infected area and drain all the pus and infection.

What Happens after the Surgery?

After the surgery, the child is brought back to the recovery room, and the care team monitors his vitals. Depending on the outcome of the surgery, they will be made to stay or be discharged from the hospital. The surgeon will give you instructions on how to take care of the child during their recovery process.

• The child would be put on antibiotics for the next 3-4 weeks. These will be oral antibiotics, so you are not expected to visit the hospital.
• Ensure they eat healthy and nutritious food.
• Light movement is allowed, but listen to the surgeon’s advice before starting to engage them in sports and other physical activities.
• Do not skip follow-up appointments with the doctor, as it will help them monitor the child’s recovery and make essential adjustments in their treatment plan.

What Happens after the Infection is Gone?

In most cases, children do not have any further problems once the infection is gone. That said, the child may develop a few problems due to infection. For instance, if some bones do not get proper blood or nutrition after the infection is gone, they may die. It may result in growth problems in the child.

Growth problems may lead to a significant difference in the length of the child’s leg or may cause trouble with the thighbone fitting, staying, or moving well in the hip socket. This condition is called hip dysplasia.

Regular visits to the doctor ensure they check for signs of problems like this and educate you about the signs to watch for a few months after infection, so that if anything goes wrong, you can visit them at the right time.

For expert evaluation and treatment of childhood hip infections, consult Dr. Ashwani Maichand.