Osteomyelitis in children is most often haematogenous and has an acute onset with high fever and painful bones in the joints. It is more likely to occur in the proximal tibia and distal humerus of the lower limbs and is easily treated with a good prognosis.
Osteomyelitis in adults can be acute or chronic, often secondary to trauma, surgery or the spread of peripheral infections, and is often seen in lower limb bones such as the tibia and femur. In adults, haematogenous osteomyelitis lesions are commonly found in the pelvis and spine.