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Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Neonatal Pial Surface Electroporation
Published on: May 7, 2014
Neonatal scalp abscess: is it a benign disease?
Evan J Weiner1, Mark S McIntosh, Madeline Matar Joseph
1Department of Pediatrics, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Background:
Neonatal scalp abscesses are a rare but potentially very serious condition.
Objectives:
This report serves to demonstrate meningitis as a potential complication of neonatal scalp abscess. In addition, we review the current literature on the subject and comment on the most appropriate evaluation and treatment.
Case Report:
We describe six cases of neonatal scalp abscesses with one complication of enterococcal meningitis.
Conclusion:
The emergency practitioner should recognize that a neonate with a scalp abscess needs to be evaluated for potential serious complications and treated empirically to cover for organisms of vaginal origin.
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