Osteoporosis vs. Osteomyelitis: What's the Difference?

Osteoporosis and Osteomyelitis Definitions
Osteoporosis
A disease characterized by a decrease in bone mass and density, occurring especially in postmenopausal women, resulting in a predisposition to fractures.
Osteomyelitis
A usually bacterial infection of bone and bone marrow in which the resulting inflammation can lead to a reduction of blood supply to the bone.
Osteoporosis
(pathology) A disease, occurring especially in women following menopause, in which the bones become extremely porous and are subject to fracture.
Osteomyelitis
(pathology) An infection of the bone
Osteoporosis
An absorption of bone so that the bone tissue becomes unusually porous. It occurs especially in elderly men and postmenopausal women, and predisposes the elderly to fractures of the bones.
ADVERTISEMENT
Osteomyelitis
An inflammation of bone and bone marrow (usually caused by bacterial infection)
Osteoporosis
Abnormal loss of bony tissue resulting in fragile porous bones attributable to a lack of calcium; most common in postmenopausal women