PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Osteomyelitis is a frightening term and it probably lives up to the fear.

In simplest terms, osteomyelitis is an infection in the bones and usually starts somewhere else in the body or in the blood stream. In adults the symptoms can start out vague: a fever or fatigue and pain in a certain area. There is not always a red hot and infected area as is the case with many infections. It often takes an x-ray, special scans or an MRI for doctors to make the diagnosis.

Treatment is long and requires iv antibiotics.

Before the development of these antibiotics this was a killer and many people had to have infected areas amputated. Today there are still major concerns and the health of patients relies on diagnosis and sustained treatment.

Reported By Dr. Brian McDonough, KYW Newsradio Medical Editor