A young person after suffering a local injury comes with severe pain and extreme local tenderness, starting near the end of a long bone. Pus makes its way to the surface under the periosteum with local swelling, redness and heat. There is a marked rise in temperature to around 104 F. The condition is ACUTE OSTEOMYELITIS.

Acute osteomyelitis is often due to coagulase-positive staphylococcus arising from a focus on the skin, like in the tonsils or from a wound. At times, pneumococci or H. influenza are responsible. The infection is due to bacteraemia. A small abscess is formed which makes its way up towards the surface under the periosteum or occasionally in the medulla of the bone.

SYMPTOMS OF ACUTE OSTEOMYELITIS

Signs and symptoms of osteomyelitis include:

• Fever
• Swelling, warmth and redness over the area of the infection
• Pain in the area of the infection
• Fatigue

Sometimes osteomyelitis causes no signs and symptoms or the signs and symptoms are hard to distinguish from other problems. This may be especially true for infants, older adults and people whose immune systems are compromised.

CAUSES OF ACUTE OSTEOMYELITIS

Most cases of osteomyelitis are caused by staphylococcus bacteria, types of germs commonly found on the skin or in the nose of even healthy individuals.

Germs can enter a bone in a variety of ways, including:

• The bloodstream. Germs in other parts of your body — for example, in the lungs from pneumonia or in the bladder from a urinary tract infection — can travel through your bloodstream to a weakened spot in a bone.
• Injuries. Severe puncture wounds can carry germs deep inside your body. If such an injury becomes infected, the germs can spread into a nearby bone. Germs can also enter the body if you have broken a bone so severely that part of it is sticking out through your skin.
• Surgery. Direct contamination with germs can occur during surgeries to replace joints or repair fractures.

HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT OF ACUTE OSTEOMYELITIS

Calcarea phosphorica suits delicate, tall, thin children, with scrofulous and gouty constitution. Osteoporosis, slow ossification, non-union of bones, rickets. This remedy is prescribed upon the constitutional expression. Delayed healing of broken bones. Acute upon chronic osteomyelitis.

Fluoricum acidum has an action upon the long bones causing decay and necrosis. It favours the expulsion of the necrosed part. Destructiveness is the keynote of this acid and it produces slow, deep, destructive effects. The patient is compelled to move about  energetically. Discharges are thin,  foul, acrid, causing itching. Fluoricum acidum is a hot patient and is always better by cold.

Aurum metallicum suits sanguine people with syphilitic and mercurial traits when implanted on to scrofulous characters. exostosis of the head, lumps  under the scalp; decay of nasal, palatine and mastoid bones fall under the influence of this remedy. Soreness of the affected bones, better in open air and worse at night. Paralytic and tearing pains in the joints . tendency for ulcer which attack the bones. Boring pains and burning stitches predominate.

Mezereum is the vegetable analogue of and the most important antidote to mercurius solubilis mezereum affects the skin, bones, nerves and mucous membrane. It is very sensitive to cold air. The secretions are acrid and contain a lot of pus. Bones, specially the long bones are inflamed and swollen; they decay and develop exo stosis; pains are worse at night. It forms a thick crust or scab with pus beneath. The ulcer is thick, hard and painful.

Silicea terra is useful in disease of bones and cartilages; decay and necrosis. Softening of bones. Silicea terra can stimulate the organism to reabsorb fibrotic conditions and scar tissues. It is related to all pustulous burrowings. It promotes expulsion of foreign bodies. In osteomyelitis, the pus and sequestrum is formed by the decay and necrosis of the bone.

Gunpowder is a mixture of carbon-sulphur-kali nitricum. Gunpowder is prescribed for healing the wounds which refuse to heal. It is also a very good remedy for acute infections, boils, abscesses and  bites. It has antiseptic properties. Low potencies of gunpowder generally used.

Calcarea fluorica is an excellent remedy for bone deformities. Ulceration of bones with fistulous formation. Periostitis, especially of ribs, lower jaw

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