Symptoms

During an acute episode, your kneecap and just below it will be painful and swollen. If the bursa is infected, the kneecap becomes swollen and warm to the touch. An abscess (tender, fluid-filled bump) can form on the kneecap. You may also develop a fever and chills as well as pain with activity, but not usually at night.

If you have chronic bursitis, you might feel small, tender lumps underneath the skin of your kneecap; these are actually thickened pieces of bursa tissue.