[Intervertebral disk infection in children (author's transl)]. / Infección del disco intervertebral en el niño.

ABSTRACT

Discitis, or infection of an intervertebral disk, is a diagnostic challenge in the preschool age, unless there is good reason for suspicion. Two children, two and four years old, are discussed here. They had abdominal pain for several days, difficulty in movement and anomalous sitting postures. In both, L4-L5 was affected, and laboratory, including bacteriology, studies were negative, except for leucocytosis and slight-to-moderately elevated sedimentation rates. The diagnoses were confirmed by lumbar spine X-rays, though not until the third week after onset of symptoms. Discussed are the values of bone gammagraphy in early diagnosis, favourable clinical evolution in spite of an abnormal radiological picture, and treatment.