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An 11-year-old girl with right-sided weakness secondary to cerebral abscesses: a case report

Tiffani J Johnson1, Christopher King

  • 1Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, RAND-University of Pittsburgh Scholar, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA. tiffani.johnson@chp.edu

Pediatric Emergency Care
|March 7, 2013
PubMed

Insights

A previously healthy child presented with headache and weakness, revealing two cerebral abscesses. This case highlights the rare but serious nature of brain abscesses in pediatric emergency medicine.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Emergency Medicine

Background:

  • Brain abscesses are rare in children presenting to emergency departments.
  • Prompt diagnosis and management are crucial for favorable outcomes.

Observation:

  • An 11-year-old previously healthy female presented with an 8-day history of headache and right-sided weakness.
  • Initial evaluation revealed two cerebral abscesses.

Findings:

  • Cerebral abscesses in pediatric emergency settings are uncommon.
  • The case underscores the importance of considering serious intracranial pathology in children with neurological deficits.

Implications:

  • This case emphasizes the need for thorough evaluation of neurological symptoms in children.
  • Early recognition and treatment of pediatric brain abscesses can prevent severe morbidity and mortality.

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