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	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Osteomyelitis is an inflammation of bone caused by an infecting organism. The infection may be limited to a single portion of the bone or may involve multiple areas. The infection is generally due to a single organism, but polymicrobial infections (caused by different and multiple bacteria or fungi) can occur, especially in patients with diabetes. Persons of any age can develop a bone infection, although it is more common in children and persons older than 50 years. The February 20, 2008, issue of JAMA includes an article about the difficulties of identifying and diagnosing osteomyelitis in patients with diabetes.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Signs and symptoms of acute osteomyelitis in children typically worsen in a matter of days or weeks and may include

• Fever
  
• Irritability
  
• Lethargy
  
• Pain, warmth, swelling, and redness over the area of infection
  

RELATED ARTICLE

Does This Patient With Diabetes Have Osteomyelitis of the Lower Extremity?
Sonia Butalia, Valerie A. Palda, Robert J. Sargeant, Allan S. Detsky, and Ophyr Mourad
JAMA. 2008;299(7):806-813.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT