Is Brain Abscess Fatal? Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment
A brain abscess is a brain infection that may cause problems with a child’s brain and spinal cord function. A brain abscess:
- Can occur in all children, but are more common in young school-aged children
- Occur twice as often in boys than in girls
- May be the result of a virus or infection
- Can be detected through a variety of tests, including x-rays, MRIs, and CT scans
- May be treated with medication, but surgery may be required
Brain abscess causes
The most common causes are viruses and bacteria. Several factors may increase your child’s chances of developing a brain abscess:
- congenital (present at birth) heart disease
- meningitis
- chronic middle ear and sinus infections
- dental or jaw infections
- infections of the face or scalp
- head injury or skull fracture
- traction (a device placed around the head to hold the head and neck areas still; used in patients with broken necks)
- shunt (devices used to drain excess amounts of cerebral spinal fluid)
Is a brain abscess common?
Brain abscesses can occur in any child, but they’re more common in young, school-aged children and occur twice as often in boys than in girls.
Brain abscess symptoms
Symptoms vary from child to child, based on their age. The most common include:
For babies and younger children:
- fever
- a full or bulging soft spot on the top of the head
- sleepiness or less alert than usual
- increased irritability
- high-pitched cry
- poor feeding
- projectile vomiting
- seizures
For older children:
- fever
- complaints of severe headaches
- nausea and vomiting
- changes in personality or behavior
- changes in speech
- problems walking
- increased movement in the arms or legs (spasticity)
- seizures
Brain Abscess | Diagnosis & Treatments
How does a doctor know that it’s a brain abscess?
During the physical examination, your child’s doctor will obtain a complete medical history of your child. In addition to urine and stool tests and a measure of your head’s circumference, a doctor may do any of these diagnostic tests:
- X-ray
- uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to produce images of internal tissues, bones, and organs onto film.
- Magnetic resonance imaging
- also called an MRI
- uses a combination of large magnets, radio frequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within the body
- Intravenous (IV) contrast agents may be given during the scan to see the abscess better
- Computerized tomography scan
- also called a CT or CAT scan
- uses a combination of x-rays and computer technology to show detailed images of any part of the body, including the bones, muscles, fat, and organs.
- Sputum culture
- tests the stuff coughed up from the lungs and into the mouth
- helps to see if an infection is present
- Lumbar puncture
- also called a spinal tap
- a special needle is placed into the lower back, into the spinal canal
- measures the pressure in the spinal canal and brain
- a small amount of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) can be removed and sent for testing to determine if there is an infection or other problems
- Electroencephalogram
- also called an EEG
- records the brain’s continuous electrical activity using electrodes attached to your scalp
- Intracranial pressure monitoring
- also called ICP
- measures the pressure inside of your head
Brain abscess survival rate
With treatment, the death rate is about 10% to 30%. The earlier treatment is received, the better. Some people may have long-term nervous system problems after surgery.
