Hip inflammation in children

Definition

Inflammation of the hip joint in children can have many different causes. For example, certain pathogens can be considered as well as autoimmunological processes, which typically cause inflammation without pathogen involvement. The so-called coxitis fugax, colloquially often called hip rhinitis, is a disease of children and infants.

It is an inflammation of the hip joint. A viral infection of the respiratory tract leads to a secondary inflammation of the hip joint which is caused by immune cells. Often boys between 3 and 10 years are affected.

Other possible causes of hip inflammation in children are bacterial inflammation of the joint as well as inflammation caused by wear and tear. A rheumatic disease can also be the cause of the inflammation of the joint. Inflammations of the hip in children are usually caused by complaints in the area and a conspicuous limp. Depending on the underlying disease, different therapeutic options are considered, whereby rest and special exercises as well as medicinal and surgical therapies can be used.

Symptoms

The symptoms of hip inflammation can vary depending on the existing disease and the individual degree of severity. Depending on the age of the affected child, a description of the symptoms is not possible and only clinical tests can be used to determine the severity of the symptoms. If the affected children are already able to walk, hip inflammation is often accompanied by limping and a relieving posture, which can provide the suspected diagnosis when it occurs.

Since an inflammation of the joint is present, it also usually shows so-called signs of inflammation. The skin over the joint is reddened, overheated and painful. Swelling of the area is also common.

Signs of infection such as fever and fatigue can also occur. In many cases, pain also occurs during active as well as passive movement of the hip, which can sometimes radiate into other areas, especially the knee joint, by applying a relieving posture. The performance of clinical tests usually allows the attending physician to objectify the symptoms and make a statement about the underlying cause of the hip inflammation.

For example, many hip diseases result in reduced mobility in the hip joint. The inward rotation of the leg and the extension of the leg are usually limited. With the help of movement tests, the symptoms can be identified.

While diseases that are not primarily caused by infectious pathogens, such as so-called hip rhinitis (coxitis fugax), are rarely accompanied by the occurrence of fever and other signs of infection, these occur much more frequently in the case of bacterial inflammation of the joint. Likewise, effusions in the hip joint are frequently found in hip inflammation. These can be easily detected by means of an ultrasound examination.