Brain Abscess
A brain abscess is a brain infection that may cause problems with a child's brain and spinal cord function. The team at Boston Children's Hospital works quickly to identify a child's brain abscess and take all the steps necessary to remove it.
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
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:
