What is the term for an infection that has spread from another part of the body to the joints?

• A. Osteoarthritis
• B. Infectious arthritis
• C. Gout
• D. Carpal tunnel syndrome

Answer: (B)

When an infection spreads to a joint, the joint becomes inflamed and infected because pathogens travel through the bloodstream or spread from nearby tissues. This is called infectious arthritis (also known as septic arthritis). The key idea is that the joint infection originates outside the joint and then seeds into the joint space, leading to rapid swelling, warmth, severe pain, and limited movement, often with fever. It’s different from other joint problems: osteoarthritis is a degenerative wear-and-tear condition, gout is caused by uric acid crystal deposition in the joint, and carpal tunnel syndrome results from nerve compression in the wrist. Recognizing infectious arthritis is important because it typically requires prompt medical treatment to prevent joint damage.