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Published on: February 29, 2020

Oral wooden stick injury complicated by meningitis and brain abscess

Chin-Jung Chang1, Li-Tung Huang, Chun-Chung Lui

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.

Chang Gung Medical Journal
|June 25, 2002
PubMed

Insights

A rare case of meningitis and brain abscess occurred in a child after a penetrating oral injury from a wooden stick. Prompt treatment led to a good recovery, highlighting the serious potential of such injuries.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Meningitis and brain abscess are uncommon complications of oral injuries.
  • Penetrating injuries to the oral cavity pose unique diagnostic and management challenges.

Observation:

  • A 3-year-old boy sustained a penetrating oral injury from a wooden stick.
  • The patient presented with meningitis and a subsequent brain abscess, confirmed by imaging.
  • Cerebrospinal fluid analysis identified viridans streptococcus.

Findings:

  • The brain abscess was multiloculated and ring-enhancing on magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography.
  • The patient received surgical drainage and an 8-week course of antibiotic therapy.
  • Despite the severity, the patient showed a good recovery at 2-year follow-up.

Implications:

  • Penetrating oral injuries, even without cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, require careful evaluation due to the risk of serious intracranial complications.
  • Early recognition and appropriate management, including surgical intervention and antibiotics, are crucial for favorable outcomes.
  • This case underscores the importance of considering oral trauma as a potential source of central nervous system infections.

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