The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
2009 , Vol 51 , Num 3
Physiological periostitis in a 2.5-month-old baby
Departments of Pediatrics1,Radiology2,Orthopedics and Traumatology, The Ministry of Health Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey3,
Periosteal reaction has different etiologies in early infancy. Physiological
periostitis is a well- documented X-ray finding seen in both preterm and term
babies aged between 1-6 months and can easily be misdiagnosed as child abuse
or pathological periostitis. Here, we present a 2.5-month-old infant admitted
with a history of fever, swollen right upper arm after vaccination and X-rays
findings revealing periosteal reactions on both sides of the humeri, radii,
tibiae and femora. Initial diagnosis was child abuse or congenital syphilis.
Due to the normal physical findings and normal serological-biochemical data,
physiological periostitis was diagnosed. Physiological periostitis should also be
considered in patients with periosteal reactions of the long bones in infants
aged between 1-6 months.
Keywords :
periostitis, physiological, infant.