Joint tap is needed to determine the etiology of acute arthritis. An infection can destroy a joint, so treatment must be initiated rapidly.
Acute arthritis is a serious condition.
Failure to recognize and treat an infection can lead to rapid joint destruction. The disorders that require prompt, specific treatment are infectious and crystal-induced arthritis. Pyogenic infections of the joints in adults are seen primarily in the debilitated, the elderly and those who are parenteral drug abusers. That is, other than GC arthritis , infections are infrequent. Findings that suggest gonococcal disease include a prodromal of myalgias, migratory arthralgias, fever, dermatitis or tenosynovitis.