Dorothy FarrarBrain abscess (brain abscess)
A brain abscess refers to an encapsulated collection of pus] in a narrowly defined area of the brain. The disease occurs very rarely, affecting 0.001 percent of the population annually. Headaches, blurred vision, and speech problems may indicate a brain abscess.
What is a brain abscess?
A brain abscess is a localized inflammation in the brain with pus formation and is usually caused by bacteria or, in rare cases, fungi. This accumulation of pus is surrounded by a capsule in a so-called abscess cavity and is caused by the melting of brain tissue during infectious processes.
Especially children between seven and ten years, adults between the twentieth and thirtieth years and immunocompromised persons can often be affected by a brain abscess in certain underlying diseases.
Causes
A brain abscess is often caused by bacteria of the genera streptococci or staphylococci. Infectious processes in the vicinity of the brain usually play a role. For example, middle ear, sinus and even tooth root infections can lead to an abscess in the brain. One speaks in these cases of transmitted brain abscesses.Furthermore, the pathogens can also be washed up via the blood and trigger a brain abscess. This so-called hematogenous-metastatic brain abscess usually affects patients with heart valve defects or immunocompromised persons. The pathogens can come from all regions of the body. Particularly often, the source of infection is an inflamed inner lining of the heart or pneumonia.
The hematogenous-metastatic brain abscess often occurs multiply, which means that multiple abscesses can form in the body. In this type of brain abscess, fungi can be responsible for the disease in addition to bacteria. A direct infection of the brain with bacteria as a result of a traumatic brain injury or surgery on the brain is also possible. The pathogens are transmitted through the open wound. However, in about 15 percent of cases, the cause of the brain abscess is unclear.
When to see a doctor?
If headaches, nausea, vomiting or impaired consciousness occur over a long period of time, a doctor should be consulted. A medical clarification is particularly recommended if the symptoms seem to occur for no reason. A brain abscess manifests itself by very different symptoms, which can only be attributed to the disease by a doctor. Anyone who suddenly notices speech or visual disturbances, paralysis, fever or epileptic seizures must have these complaints clarified immediately.
If the brain abscess is treated early, the chances of recovery are generally good. However, those affected should also pay attention to unusual symptoms after treatment. Sometimes a successfully treated brain abscess recurs and sometimes even spreads. For this reason, close cooperation with the responsible doctor is recommended, which includes follow-up visits and preventive measures. If epileptic seizures occur after treatment, the brain abscess may have damaged the nervous system – immediate medical clarification is indicated. In addition, the causes of the brain abscesses should be determined in order to reduce the risk of recurrence.
Symptoms and course
Typical symptoms of a brain abscess:
Depending on the size and location of the brain abscess, very different symptoms can occur. The main symptom, however, is headache, which occurs together with nausea and vomiting. The headache is caused by the space-occupying processes involved in the development of the abscess. In addition to the abscess itself, the abscess-related edema also increases intracranial pressure to such an extent that headaches occur.
However, other symptoms depend on the location of the abscess. Depending on the location of the abscess, disturbances of consciousness, Paralysis , speech disorders or visual disturbances can occur. Sometimes there are also Epileptic seizures or fever. Today, a brain abscess is very treatable. This also applies in cases where the initial situation is relatively unfavorable. In earlier times, before antibiotics were used, a brain abscess almost always led to death.
Diagnostics
If there is a suspicion of a brain abscess, imaging methods have proven their worth for diagnosis. MRI ( Magnetic Resonance Imaging ) and CT ( computed tomography ) are particularly suitable for this. For the early stage of the disease, in which no abscess capsules are present, the examination using MRI is best suited. After formation of the capsule, however, CT gives better information.
However, it must be noted that the observed structures often cannot be distinguished from tumors. It is therefore necessary to carry out further laboratory tests. Blood tests can be used to determine whether inflammatory processes are taking place in the body. Signs of this are the increase in white blood cells and the increased concentration of C-reactive protein. If this is the case, it is then necessary to determine the exact causative agent of the brain abscess by creating blood cultures with the corresponding abscess material.
Complications
A brain abscess has a very negative effect on the patient’s health and can significantly reduce the patient’s quality of life. In most cases, those affected suffer from severe headaches. These can also lead to disturbances in concentration and coordination. It is not uncommon for a brain abscess to lead to permanent nausea , which is also associated with vomiting. The patients often suffer from Migraines and are significantly restricted in their everyday life. Movement disorders or epileptic seizures can also occur as a result of a brain abscess. For this reason, many patients are dependent on the help of other people with this disease. The disease can also cause fever.
The immune system of those affected is also weakened by the brain abscess, so that inflammation and other infections can occur more frequently. A brain abscess is usually surgically removed. There are no particular complications. However, complications can occur if the complaint is diagnosed late. This can lead to irreversible disorders of the nervous system, so that the patients suffer from a permanent restriction of movement. Those affected are also dependent on treatment with antibiotics.
treatment and therapy
The exact treatment of a brain abscess depends on many factors. The position of the abscess, its size, the number of abscesses, the size of the accompanying edema and the causative pathogen play a decisive role in the conception of the therapy. Treatment is usually by surgery and antibiotic treatment. Of course, in order to operate effectively, it is important to know where the abscess is located.
Of course, if it sits on the surface of the brain, surgical removal is easier than if it is in a more difficult-to-reach location. A superficial abscess can be removed quickly. In the case of a deeper abscess, the doctor first drills a hole to puncture and suck out the pus source. After flushing the abscess cavity with an antibiotic, the abscess capsule is removed in a second surgical step. However , the Abscess must always be treated with antibiotics to kill the causative pathogens.
In cases that are difficult to access, it may even be necessary to treat exclusively with antibiotics. In addition to treating the brain abscess, in some cases it is also necessary to treat the obvious source of the pathogen, such as inflammation of the middle ear, paranasal sinuses, tooth roots or Endocarditis , with antibiotics in order to prevent a recurrence.
Prevention
In order to prevent a brain abscess, consistent treatment of the pre-existing condition with antibiotics is recommended. In this context, these include inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, middle ear and tooth roots.To prevent tooth root inflammation, regular dental care and visits to the dentist are necessary. Furthermore, a healthy lifestyle promotes a strong immune system , which prevents dangerous streptococcal or staph infections that could lead to brain abscesses in advance.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.