$Unique_ID{BRK02336}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Is Tendonitis an Infection or Inflammation?}
$Subject{infection infections inflammation inflammations ill defined symptoms
symptom muscle muscles tendon tendons tendonitis redness warmth heat swelling
pain function loss}
$Volume{N-18,A-18}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1992,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Is Tendonitis an Infection or Inflammation?


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

QUESTION:  My doctor told me that my tendonitis was an "inflammation" of a
tendon.  I thought "itis" meant an infection, like in "appendicitis".  Can
you clear this up for me?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ANSWER:  Your physician has probably diagnosed your disease correctly, but I'd
bet that many people have the same impression about our confusing medical
terminology that you do.  Actually "itis" does refer to inflammations, but an
infection produces an inflammatory reaction in the body as well.  Such a
reaction produces five signs, often called the "cardinal" signs to emphasize
their importance, which are:  redness, warmth or heat, swelling, pain, and
loss of function in the area of the inflammation.  When bacteria cause the
inflammation, antibiotics may be used to fight the infection.
Anti-inflammatory drugs ranging from aspirin, NSAIDS (nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory medicine) to steroids (cortisone like medication) can be
used to combat the effects of the inflammatory process.

----------------

The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.