Pyomyositis in childhood.

Twenty-five per cent of 63 Nigerian children aged between 6 months and 12 years with pyomyositis were found to have associated osteomyelitis. Even though the clinical features were generally similar to those in other series, there was a higher incidence of complications and associated disorders, particularly anaemia and septicaemia. Septicaemia was demonstrable at presentation in all these who developed osteomyelitis. The mortality was low at 3% but morbidity was high as a result of the complications which kept many of the cases in hospital for prolonged periods. Attention is drawn to the high frequency of electrolyte and urea abnormalities associated with pyomyositis in the series. These changes, which were multifactorial in causation, must be corrected as part of the overall management of children with pyomyositis.