Diskitis is the infection or inflammation of the disk between two vertebrae.

What is going on in the body?

The spine consists of bony structures called vertebrae stacked one on top of another. Vertebrae are separated by disks, which are plate-like bodies made up of cartilage. These disks act as shock-absorbing cushions. In diskitis, the disk becomes infected or inflamed, later causing destruction of the adjoining vertebral bone. Diskitis usually affects children ranging from toddlers to adolescents. The most common part of the spine involved is the lower back.

What are the causes and risks of the disease?

Diskitis is caused when an infection in another part of the body, particularly the pelvic area, spreads through the blood stream to the spine. Bacteria are found in less than half of cases. Other cases are thought to be viral or inflammatory. In rare cases, such as in tuberculosis, infection may spread from bone to disk, which is the reverse order of the spread in diskitis.