What is Pyogenic Arthritis?
Pyogenic is a pus infection, and is completely different from rheumatoid arthritis. It is usually caused by some infective organism, or may be an extension of an infection in some other place. For example, there may be an infection near a joint, or the joint is involved simply by a mechanical progression of this. On the other hand, germs may be carried to the joint via the bloodstream, also supplying a distant part in which infection is involved. Fluid seeps into the joint space and swelling, pain, fevers, maybe shivering attacks occur. There may be nausea, vomiting, feeling off-colour, and the patient may vomit. General signs of infection are present. The fluid in the joint often contains pus as the material becomes secondarily infected. Often the long bones of the arms and legs may be involved. Once more this is not a very common condition today.
