Thursday 20 July 2017

Brain Abcess : Causes, Risk Factor, Diagnosis, Symptoms and Treatment

brain abcess, causes of brain abcess, risk factor of brain abcess, symptoms of brain abcess, treatment of brain abcess, brain haemorrhage, brain health, brain disorder,


A brain abscess is a collection of pus, immune cells, and other material in the brain, usually from a bacterial or fungal infection. It is mostly formed by bacterial infection; a fungal infection can be caused in weak immune system.

  • Brain abscess forms when fungi, viruses, or bacteria reach your brain through a wound in your head or an infection somewhere else in the body.
  • Heart and lung infections are among the most common causes of brain abscesses.
  • But brain abscesses can also begin from an ear or sinus infection, or even an abscessed tooth.
  • It can occur in any age, but most frequent in ages above 60.


Causes of brain abscess:

  • Brain abscesses commonly occur when bacteria or fungi infect part of the brain. As a result, swelling and irritation (inflammation) develop.
  • Infected brain cells, white blood cells, live and dead bacteria or fungi collect in an area of the brain. Tissue forms around this area and creates a mass, or abscess.
  • The germs that cause a brain abscess can reach the brain through the blood. Or, they enter the brain directly, such as during brain surgery. In rare cases, a brain abscess develops from an infection in the sinuses.
  • The source of the infection is often not found. However, the most common source is a lung infection. Less often, a heart infection is the cause


Risk factors of brain abscess:

Certain risk factors which increases the chances of infection may include:

  • A compromised immune system due to HIV or AIDS
  • Cancer and other chronic illnesses
  • Congenital heart disease
  • Major head injury or skull fracture
  • Meningitis
  • Immunosuppressant drugs, such as those used in chemotherapy
  • Chronic sinus or middle ear infections
  • Certain birth defects allow the infection to reach brain more easily, such as tetralogy of fallot, which is a heart defect.   


Diagnosis of brain abscess:

Diagnosis of brain abscess may be done by certain methods, which include:

  • Blood cultures- to know for infection in the blood
  • Chest x-ray- To see any suspected infection in lungs
  • Complete blood count (CBC)
  • Head CT scan
  • Electroencephalogram (EEG)-to test the electric impulses in the brain
  • MRI of head
  • Testing for the presence of antibodies to certain germs
  • Lumbar puncture or spine tap- Taking a small amount of cerebral spinal fluid to see any further problems in brain other than infection


Symptoms of brain abscess:

Certain symptoms may include:

  • Differences in mental processes, such as increased confusion, decreased responsiveness, and irritability
  • Decreased speech
  • Decreased sensation
  • Decreased movement due to loss of muscle function
  • Changes in vision
  • Changes in personality or behaviour
  • Vomiting
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Neck stiffness, especially when it occurs with fevers and chills
  • Sensitivity to light


Treatments of brain abscess:

Brain abscess is a medical emergency; it should be treated immediately to prevent any further worsening condition, which may include:

Medication is the treatment procedure if certain abscess are:

  • A small abscess (less than 2 cm)
  • An abscess deep in the brain
  • An abscess and meningitis
  • Several abscesses (rare)
  • Shunts in the brain for hydrocephalus (in some cases, the shunt may need to be removed temporarily or replaced)
  • An infection called toxoplasmosis in a person with HIV/AIDS


Surgery is  done in certain cases:

  • Increased pressure in the brain continues or gets worse
  • The brain abscess does not get smaller after medicine
  • The brain abscess contains gas (produced by some types of bacteria)
  • The brain abscess might break open (rupture)
  • The brain abscess is large (more than 2 cm)


Surgical technique is always avoided as it can bring certain complications

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