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Septic arthritis — DCH MCQ

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EasyCommon childhood illnessesSeptic arthritisDCH

A 10-year-old boy presents with knee pain after football. He has fever 39.2°C, refuses to weight-bear, and the knee is hot with markedly reduced range of movement. What is the most important red flag?

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Correct answer: E — Fever with inability to weight-bear

Fever plus inability to weight-bear and a hot joint is a red flag for septic arthritis, requiring urgent orthopaedic and paediatric assessment. Osgood-Schlatter disease causes tibial tuberosity pain related to activity but not fever or a hot joint. The pearl is that septic arthritis is a joint-threatening emergency.

Reference: RCPCH FOP specimen reasoning; NICE CKS Limping child