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Published on: October 29, 2014
Infantile chronic subdural hematoma infected by Escherichia coli--case report
Yasushi Iimura1, Satoshi Tsutsumi, Yumiko Mitome
1Department of Neurological Surgery, Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital, Urayasu, Chiba, Japan.
Insights
Infected subdural hematoma is a rare cause of fever and seizures in infants. Early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment are crucial for complete recovery from this serious condition.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Subdural hemorrhage (SDH) in infants can have various causes, including trauma.
- Infection of SDH is a rare but serious complication.
- Bacteremia can lead to secondary infection of pre-existing hematomas.
Observation:
- A 6-month-old boy presented with sustained fever and focal seizures.
- Imaging revealed a right frontotemporal subdural fluid collection.
- Burr-hole drainage yielded pus, identifying Escherichia coli infection.
Findings:
- The patient had an infected subdural hematoma, likely secondary to a pre-existing SDH.
- Cranial CT and MRI demonstrated characteristic features of the lesion.
- Cultures confirmed Escherichia coli as the causative agent.
Implications:
- This case highlights the possibility of infected subdural hematoma in infants with unexplained fever and neurological symptoms.
- Prompt diagnosis through imaging and fluid analysis is essential.
- Effective antibiotic therapy led to complete resolution, underscoring the importance of timely intervention.
Abstract:
A 6-month-old boy presented with a rare case of infected subdural hemorrhage manifesting as sustained fever and focal seizure. The boy had been well without contributory medical history. Physical examination found no neurological impairment with intact superficial appearance and soft fontanels. The parents denied recent head trauma or shaking injury. Blood examination was normal except for white blood cell count of 19200/microl and C-reactive protein level of 6.7 mg/dl. Bacterial culture of nasal swab, urine, stool, and venous blood samples was negative. Cerebrospinal fluid examination showed normal findings. Cranial computed tomography revealed an expansive subdural fluid collection in the right frontotemporal region. Magnetic resonance imaging showed the lesion as hypointense on T1- and hyperintense on T2-weighted images with intense enhancement of the outer membrane. The patient underwent burr-hole drainage, which identified the subdural hematoma encapsulated in a thick outer membrane and intermingled with pus material. Culture of the pus identified Escherichia coli. The patient received antibiotic therapy for 8 weeks that resulted in complete resolution of the infection. We assumed that preexisting subdural hematoma formed after minor head trauma was followed by hematogenous infection by E. coli. Infected subdural hematoma is possible in infants presenting with subdural hemorrhage with clinical symptoms of bacteremia.
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