#viral infection

Osteomyeltis of the femur, as a result of scarlet fever

Osteomyelitis is an intensely painful, often disastrous infection of the bone, which can have grave consequences. This case was the sequelae of a case of scarlet fever (a body-wide rash caused by strep throat), and resulted in amputation of the limb. This patient survived, but a large percentage of patients did not. Prior to antibiotics, many who contracted osteomyelitis (due to scarlet fever or other reasons) developed severe bacteremia(bacteria in the bloodstream), which often progressed to sepsisanddeath.

Think you have strep throat? See a doctor!

An American Text-Book of Surgery, for Practitioners and Students. Ed. William W. Keen & J. William White, 1899.