Pediatric Discitis is an intervertebral disc infection due to hematogenous spread to vascular channels in cartilage that disappear later in life. In 1/3 of patients it is caused by S. aureus.
Presenting Features
age <2.5 years (75%)
Refuse or difficult to walk (56%)
Back/neck pain (25-45%) ( 100%>3years)
Hx of fever (28-47%)
lumbaosacral area (78-82%)
Mean ESR 39-42
WBC> 10,500 (50%)
Abnormal MRI 90-100 %
Management is to exclude more severe disease (osteomylelitis,abscess, tumor) and antibiotic use is debatable. Remember children this age rarely complain of back pain.
