The brain is part of the central nervous system of your body. It works like the central processing unit of your computer. It receives, accepts, and inputs outside data, stores data, and organizes responses to data. The immune system, skull, and tissue layers around the brain protect it against infection. However, bacteria and other organisms can get through this protection and cause infection. The brain sometimes responds to infection by forming small hollow cavities filled with pus, called abscesses.
Brain abscesses are rare and can occur at any age, but are more common in people between 30 and 45. The risk increases with head injury, drug abuse, diabetes, cancer, AIDS, severe illness, and infections of the face, ears, nose, and eyes. Emergency hospital care is needed. Almost half of people affected continue to have nerve or behavioral effects after treatment. Since the use of antibiotics and computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the death rate from brain abscesses has decreased to 10%.
Bacteria are the usual cause. Fungi are a common cause in people with poor immune system protection (e.g., with AIDS). Brain abscesses usually result from spreading of other infections, such as sinusitis or middle ear or dental infections, or from surgery for brain tumors.
The most common symptoms are fever, headache, and nervous system problems. Such problems may be confusion, disorientation, speech or walking difficulties, change in mental status, or arm and leg weakness on one side. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, and seizures.
The health care provider finds brain abscesses by obtaining a medical history, performing a physical exam, and looking at results from MRI or CT of the brain.
Treatment involves antibiotics and surgical drainage or removal of the abscess. The decision to surgically drain or remove the abscess should be made with a neurosurgeon. Sometimes antibiotics alone may offer a cure, but surgery is usually needed. Complications from surgery include a worsening condition, stroke, and infection. Most people have antibiotics given intravenously and then by mouth. Special drugs are available for brain abscesses caused by a fungus.
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Copyright © 2016 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc.
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