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THURSDAY, July 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- People with back pain that doesn't improve with treatment could have a rare type of spine infection, new guidelines suggest.
The infection -- called vertebral osteomyelitis -- could lead to paralysis or death if it's not diagnosed and treated correctly.
The condition is often overlooked because it causes back pain, a common problem typically caused by a pulled muscle or back injury, according to the guidelines published July 30 in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.
"Back pain is so common -- and usually not caused by infection -- that diagnosis often is missed or delayed," guidelines lead author Dr.
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