Throat bacteria may point to deadly joint infection in kids
Team Udayavani, Sep 5, 2017, 5:10 PM IST
Toronto : Preseance of a bacterium in children’s throat may indicate a bone and joint infection that can have devastating effects on mobility and even cause death, scientists say. In a new study, researchers found that the presence of the bacterium Kingella kingae in children’s throats was strongly linked to bone and joint infection with the same bacterium.
Previously, most infections were thought to be caused by Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and Haemophilus influenzae type b bacteria and were treated with long-term antibiotics and/or surgery. Over the last years, new highly sensitive techniques have allowed more precise identification of the bacteria responsible for these infections.
Researchers studied 77 children aged 6 months to 4 years of age admitted for suspected bone or joint infection and 286 controls. Of the suspected infections, 65 children had confirmed bone or joint infection. They found that the vast majority of children younger than four years old suffering from a bone or joint infection were infected by Kingella kingae bacteria.
“More importantly, we discovered that 70 per cent of children who had a bone/joint infection carried these bacteria in their throats, while it is uncommon in uninfected children (only six per cent),” said Jocelyn Gravel from University of Montreal in Canada. These results are important because the proportion of unknown pathogen was very high in previous studies.
Now, using innovative diagnosis methods, this study demonstrated the K kingae is not uncommon. Rather, it is by far the most common pathogen for bone or joint infection in children, researchers said. The study was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
Nearsightedness is at epidemic levels – and the problem begins in childhood
Study finds genetic basis for link between depression, heart disease
World Malaria Day: WHO calls for equitable health access
What role does genetics play in breast cancer? How can genetic testing help with early breast cancer diagnosis?
Father’s diet can affect anxiety in sons, metabolism in daughters: Study in mice finds
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
With impact player, it is getting difficult each and every day: Pant
Congress in K’taka to stage protest on Apr 28 against ‘paltry’ drought relief given by Centre
McGurk, Stubbs rock as DC beat MI by 10 runs
‘Shaurya Smarak’ of three fallen Army officers unveiled in Jammu
BJP drops Poonam Mahajan, picks 26/11 prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam from Mumbai North Central seat