Brain abscesses are caused by infections in the brain or other parts of the body and can be fatal if left untreated. Symptoms include swelling, seizures, and confusion. Treatment options include surgery and antibiotics. Prompt medical attention is necessary for neurological symptoms.
A brain abscess is an encapsulated area of dead cells, pus, infected tissue, and other material caused by an infection in the brain. The abscess causes increased intercranial pressure, putting pressure on the brain and leading to very serious complications. If left untreated, brain abscesses are usually fatal. For patients who are diagnosed early with the condition, the prognosis can be quite good, especially if treatment is aggressive and prompt.
In some cases, the abscess is caused by an infection in or around the brain, such as a sinus or ear infection. A brain abscess can also occur when an infection spreads from another part of the body. Head trauma is another cause, in which case the source of the infection is introduced directly into the brain. Both bacteria and fungi can be involved in a brain abscess. Patients may also experience smaller abscesses, which can complicate treatment considerably.
In a patient with a brain abscess, symptoms such as headache, fever, noticeable swelling, seizures, confusion, vomiting, and nausea may emerge. Brain abscess can be diagnosed with the use of medical imaging studies, which will reveal changes in the appearance of the brain and the level of cerebrospinal fluid in the skull. Lumbar punctures, also known as spinal taps, are not usually recommended because they can disturb the fluid balance in the brain, causing the abscess to spread or rupture, but other methods such as blood tests may be used to look for the ‘infection.
Once a brain abscess is diagnosed, there are several treatment options. If the pressure inside the skull is rising dangerously quickly, surgery may be needed to drain and clean the abscessed area, and a shunt may be inserted to allow the infection to drain until it has completely healed. In other cases, it may be possible to treat the infected area with antibiotics or antifungals to clear the infection, along with diuretics to treat swelling associated with the abscess.
When people experience neurological symptoms such as confusion, memory loss, unsteady gait, tremors, headaches, or slurred speech, they should seek medical attention from a neurologist. These symptoms almost always indicate the need for immediate medical attention in an emergency facility. If the conditions are associated with an emerging condition in the brain such as a stroke, abscess, or aneurysm, prompt treatment is usually vital, and survival rates can drop dramatically the longer the patient goes without treatment.
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