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Brain abscess secondary to dental braces
1Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of General Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|December 29, 2007
Summary
Dental braces may lead to rare Haemophilus aphrophilus brain abscesses in adolescents with undetected heart conditions. This case highlights a potential risk of bacteremia from oral bacteria following orthodontic treatment.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiology
Background:
- Brain abscesses are serious infections, typically caused by bacteria or fungi.
- Haemophilus aphrophilus is a commensal bacterium found in the oral cavity.
- Patent foramen ovale is a congenital heart defect where a flap between the atria does not close properly.
Observation:
- An adolescent patient developed a brain abscess six weeks after dental brace application.
- The patient had a previously undiagnosed patent foramen ovale.
Findings:
- The brain abscess was caused by Haemophilus aphrophilus.
- This is the first reported case linking dental braces to a Haemophilus aphrophilus brain abscess.
- The undiagnosed patent foramen ovale may have facilitated the spread of bacteria to the brain.
Implications:
- Dental procedures, including orthodontic interventions like brace application or tightening, may pose a risk of bacteremia.
- This risk is potentially higher in individuals with underlying cardiac conditions such as patent foramen ovale.
- Further research is warranted to understand the link between orthodontic treatment and invasive bacterial infections.
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