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Brain Abscess, Pediatric

Karen E. Jerardi, MD, MEd and Samir S. Shah, MD, MSCE Reviewed 10/2018
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Suppurative infection involving the brain parenchyma

  • May be a single or multiple lesions

EPIDEMIOLOGY

  • Males more commonly affected (2:1 male-to-female predominance)

  • Typical age of presen...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

The location of the brain abscess or abscesses will influence the clinical presentation. 
  • Classic triad of fever, headache, and focal neurologic findings occurs in <30% of cases.

  • Fev...

TREATMENT

MEDICATION

  • Broad-spectrum antibiotics that penetrate the central nervous system (CNS) should be given at the time of diagnosis directed at most likely pathogens. The combination of a 3rd-gene...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Follow-up with neurosurgical, rehabilitation, and neurology clinics is usually required.

  • Repeat imaging prior to cessation of antibiotic therapy should be done to ...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Bonfield CM, Sharma J, Dobson S. Pediatric intracranial abscesses. J Infect.  2015;71(Suppl 1):S42–S46. [View Abstract on OvidInsights]

  • Goodkin HP, Harper MB, Pomeroy SL. Intrac...

CODES

ICD9

324.0 Intracranial abscess 

ICD10

G06.0 Intracranial abscess and granuloma 

SNOMED

  • 441806004 Abscess of brain (disorder)

  • 60404007 Cerebral abscess (disorder)

FAQ

  • Q: Do all brain abscesses require surgery?

  • A: No. Often times, brain abscesses will respond to intravenous antibiotics and will not require drainage. Close clinical and radiographic follow-up is im...

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