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Brain abscess in infants and children

Y Erşahin1, S Mutluer, E Güzelbağ

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, Ege University Medical School, Izmir, Turkey.

Child'S Nervous System : Chns : Official Journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery
|April 1, 1994
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric brain abscesses are serious, with meningitis being a common cause. Mortality is higher in young children and those admitted in a coma, regardless of treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurosurgery
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Brain abscesses in children are rare but life-threatening infections.
  • Understanding the causes, clinical presentation, and outcomes is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the etiology, management, and outcomes of pediatric brain abscesses.
  • To identify factors associated with mortality in this patient population.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 44 pediatric patients with brain abscesses.
  • Data collected on etiology, abscess characteristics, treatment modalities, and patient outcomes.
  • Statistical analysis to determine factors influencing mortality.

Main Results:

  • Meningitis (36%) was the leading cause, followed by otitis (27%) and head injury (16%).
  • Overall mortality was 20%, with significantly higher rates in children under 2 years and those presenting in a coma.
  • Surgical interventions included total excision (22), drainage (13), and needle aspiration (3).

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric brain abscesses carry a significant mortality risk, particularly in younger children and those with altered consciousness.
  • Early diagnosis and prompt management are essential, though etiology and specific treatment modalities did not significantly predict mortality in this series.
  • Commonly isolated microorganisms included Streptococci, Staphylococci, and Proteus mirabilis.

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