Periostitis & Osteomyelitis
Periostitis and osteomyelitis are both conditions affecting bones. Periostitis is an inflammation of the fibrous sheath covering bones, while osteomyelitis is a bacterial infection in the bone. The two are separate conditions, but one may lead to the other, and in some cases, doctors must determine whether their patient is suffering periostitis or osteomyeletis.
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Osteomyelitis
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Osteomyelitis infections can be caused by several varieties of bacteria, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The potential causes include an injury that thrusts bone through the skin, exposing it to air; a septic infection spreading from another part of the body; a secondary infection from a minor injury; or a chronic open wound or soft tissue infection extending down to the bone's surface.
Periostitis
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Periostitis is the medical term for an inflammation of the periosteum, the fibrous sheath that covers human bones. One form of periostitis, according to sportsinjuryclinic.com, is shin splints, caused when pressure from the muscles inflames the periosteum on the legs. The website says there are other varieties of shin splints, but periostitis is the most common cause.
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Garre's Osteomyelitis
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The two bone conditions interact in Garre's osteomyelitis, a dental disease that occurs mostly in children and young adults, according to Dr. Kavas Thunthy of New Orleans, Louisiana. The condition starts with a decaying tooth that develops an infection, then the infection spreads to the periosteum, resulting in inflammation.
Drug Addiction
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Some drug addicts can also suffer from a combination of both conditions, the NIH states. If an addict uses a dirty needle, it could inject bacteria into the periosteum, causing both inflammation and osteomyelitis. The same thing can happen if she injects the drug through a patch of infected skin.
Avoiding Misdiagnosis
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Both conditions can produce pain and swelling but a University of Texas report states that in most cases of periostitis, osteomyelitis can be easily ruled out as a cause of the pain. In some cases, however, where there's a blood-circulation problem as well, periostitis may lead to leg ulcers which could be seen as an osteomyelitis symptom. The report says it takes familiarity with the patient's medical history and careful radioscopic study of the bones to rule out osteomyelitis.
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