Joint infections can have various causes (rheumatism, crystals, gout). If germs are responsible for the infection, it is called septic arthritis. Such infection mostly occurs in a previously damaged joint.
Joint infection usually is caused by bacteria, affecting normally only a single joint and half of the cases the affect joint is the knee. If it is the germ is a virus, the involvement of multiple joints is possible. Usually the infected joint was already damaged, for example by rheumatism or by an accident.
15-20% of all joint infections are caused by germs. The patient experiences severe pain in the inflamed joint, an overheating of the skin and joint swelling as well as a strong movement restriction. In most cases there is an increase in joint fluid, the so-called joint effusion. Sometimes, the patient can even develop a fever.
To diagnose a joint infection, a sample from the liquid must be obtained from the joint space. This can also help to exclude non-bacterial causes for the infection (crystals). If it is a bacterial infection, treatment with antibiotics is indicated. Further, the joint infection should be punctuated repeatedly to ease the burden. If antibiotic therapy is not enough, the affected joint must be rinsed with special solutions. Plates or prostheses in the affected joint will have to be surgically removed.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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