What are spinal infections? Spinal Infections develop in tissue areas that surround the spinal cord. These diseases affect the paraspinal muscle, the vertebral body, and the intervertebral disk. If you suspect that you have symptoms of these infections, call Spine Center of Texas today to schedule an appointment at one of our offices in San Antonio, Seguin, or New Braunfels.
Causes of Spinal Infections
- Mycobacterium- This is a rare type of bacteria mostly found in developing countries. These bacteria cause tuberculosis, which leads to the destruction of the spinal tissues.
- Advancing age: Advanced age sometimes leads to the degeneration of the spine.
- Cancer: Severe complications of cancer and its treatment, including radiation, can weaken the immune system. These side-effects make the body too weak to resist and fight infection.
- Long-term abuse of intravenous drugs: When drug abusers use contaminated syringes and needles to administer drugs intravenously, bacteria can spread to the spine. The majority of heroin addicts have spinal abscess forming in the spinal cord.
- Diabetes mellitus: Diabetes is a disease that affects connective tissues in organs, including bone and cartilage. Patients with diabetes are more prone to prolonged bone complications. There is a direct relationship between diabetes mellitus and lumbar spinal stenosis.
Symptoms of Spinal Infections
The signs can vary depending on the kind of spinal infection. But in normal cases, typical symptoms of these infections include:
- Chills and fevers
- Stiffness and pain in the neck
- Headaches
- Tenderness and redness on the wounds
- Visible wound drainage
- Tingling, weakness, and weakness in the legs or arms
- Severe back pain
In some cases, the symptoms might manifest severely while in others, they might not even be experienced.
Risk Factors Associated with Spinal Infections
Most of the risk factors associated with spinal infections comprise of conditions that affect the immune system. They include:
- HIV infection (Human immunodeficiency virus)
- Organ Transplants
- Malnutrition
- Prolonged use of steroids
Note that the symptoms depend on the severity of the spine infection. Contact Spine Center of Texas today for an evaluation.
