[Sub-tentorial cerebral abscesses in children; a report of 22 cases]

Twenty-two cases of sub-tentorium cerebral abscesses were observed in children. The first clinical symptoms were those of intracranial hypertension, disorders of consciousness, specially somnolence, fever and low general condition. Focal neurological signs were frequent but appeared later. A cerebral abscess should be suspected when such symptoms occur in children with heart disease or with respiratory infection. Simple investigations like examination of the fundi, X-ray of the skull and EEG give valuable clues. In case of such a clinical picture, lumbar puncture is useless and often dangerous. The best diagnostic test is a cerebral scintigram.