HealthInfo Canterbury
Joint infection (septic arthritis)
Important
Joint infection (septic arthritis) needs urgent medical treatment.
Symptoms of joint infection (septic arthritis) are:
- the sudden swelling of a joint
- severe joint pain
- redness and heat around the joint
- fever or generally feeling unwell.
If you have any of these symptoms it's important that you see a doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor will then diagnose if you have septic arthritis.
Children can also get septic arthritis. This can cause your child to be unwell or upset, probably with a fever and limping, or not wanting to put weight on or use an arm or leg. You should see a doctor immediately if this happens.
An infection of a joint is also called septic arthritis. If you have septic arthritis, your joint will be very painful and swollen. The skin over your joint might be red. You are also likely to have a fever and feel unwell.
Sometimes it can be hard to tell if your symptoms are due to septic arthritis or gout.
If your doctor believes you have a septic joint they will send you to hospital to see a specialist team. They might give you antibiotics or you may need surgery to have the joint washed out.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Patient.info – Septic arthritis
Factsheet describing septic arthritis diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed July 2021.
Review key: HISHE-19164
