Abscess Of The Brain
Brain abscesspertains to a pocket of pus in the brain. It may form as a result of infection in the head which can be from the ears, nose, or a tooth. It can also be infection from the blood that gets into the brain. This formation of pus in the brain is uncommon but it can be deadly.
There are different types of bacteria that cause brain abscess. These include the Streptococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacteroides fragilis. For people with compromised immune system, fungi like aspergilli and protozoa Toxoplasma gondii can lead to formation of brain abscess.
Symptoms
The clinical manifestations of the abscess in the brain could vary. This depends on the location of the abscess, the size, and extent of inflammation and swelling. But generally, people who have brain abscess complain of of headache, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, seizure, paralysis on one side of the body, fever and chills, and in worst cases, a person could fall into a coma.
Diagnosis
If a doctor suspects of a brain abscess, he/she will more likely order tests like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). During this test, a person will be injected intravenously with a substance called gadolinium. It’s a contrast agent that makes it easier to see the abscesses on MRI scans. Although MRI provides better image quality than CT scan, the latter can be used if MRI is not available.
Because there are several causative agents for the brain abscess, the doctor may draw a sample of the abscess in order to determine the kind of microorganism causing it. The sample will be sent to the laboratory where it will be cultured then identified.
Treatment
The treatment plan for brain abscess depends on one’s case. Some people may just be prescribed with medications while some may require other procedures.
Antibiotics will more likely be recommended for those with brain abscess. The most commonly used antibiotics for this case include cephalosporins, metronidazole, and vancomycin. Initially, these antibiotics may be used altogether until the doctor determines which one is the most effective. They are given between 4 to 6 weeks until the abscess shrinks.
There will be continuous monitoring through MRI or CT scans. In case the abscess doesn’t respond well to antibiotics, the doctor may suggest draining the abscess with a needle or doing an open surgery to remove the entire abscess.
