Brain abscess

What causes a brain abscess?

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.

What are the symptoms of a brain abscess?

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