What are the precautions to be taken to prevent it?
Septic arthritis is difficult to prevent and the only precaution that should be taken is to make sure that your child is healthy. Also, the diagnosis of the infection is suspected when child is unwell e.g. respiratory infection, urinary tract infection. The diagnosis should never be delayed.

What are the consequences of not detecting it early?
It can be absolutely disastrous. The child may limp lifelong e.g. if the ball of the hip joint is destroyed. If the disease is fulminant, it can even lead to death. Long term, it may lead to shortening of the leg, deformation of the extremity and joint dislocation.
Hence, infection should be detected early, ideally within 3-4 days of symptom onset.

Figure 3 -Destroyed right hip joint post infection

What are the chances of recurrence?
The chances of recurrence are low. It can occur in a young child with involvement of multiple joints together or it may recur due to delayed resolution of infection due to improper treatment.

Which are the commonest joints involved?
Hip, Knees, shoulder and elbow in that order the commonest joints involved. For osteomyelitis, the commonest bones involved are upper femur, lower femur, upper tibia, and upper humerus in that order.