Understanding Chronic multifocal osteomyelitis: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

Sign In

All Posts Conditions Community About

Explore Over 11,000+ Conditions, Medications, and Symptoms.

Get a personalized feed by signing up for free.

All Conditions

Chronic multifocal osteomyelitis

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

General

Chronic multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO), also known as chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis, is an autoimmune disease - a disorder in which the autoimmune system attacks itself. CRMO is a rare disorder that causes inflammation of the bone. CRMO usually occurs in children around the age of nine or 10 and occurs more frequently in girls than in boys.

10 people with Chronic multifocal osteomyelitis

Learn from others who are experiencing Chronic multifocal osteomyelitis.

Signs & symptoms

The most common symptom of CRMO is pain in the bones. Other symptoms may include: - Swelling in the joints - Fever in some cases

Diagnosis

To diagnose CRMO, a pediatric rheumatologist will first exclude the possibility of an underlying disease causing your child’s symptoms. Your healthcare provider will conduct a physical exam and may order some tests, which may include: - X-ray - looking for bone damage - Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - detects bone lesions in higher definitions - Blood tests - can show elevated levels of inflammation Bone biopsy rules out infection or cancer, and shows inflammation

Treatment

There is no cure for CRMO. The main goal of treatment is to reduce pain, prevent bone growths and deformities, and improve your child's quality of life. Some medications may include: - Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAID) - Steroids - Biological agents - adalimumab, anakinra, and infliximab. these medications are given in more severe cases.

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike

Latest Discussions

frog_of_destiny

Dealing with Doctor's Appointment Anxiety

lovette

Electric Shock Sensation in Hip and Leg Twitching

lovette

Looking for a Chat Buddy

aliannatlbbh

How have your health conditions impacted your life?

Alike Wisdom

Instantly get answers to medical questions with our AI, built from the collective wisdom of our community facing similar experiences