Brain Abscess

A brain abscess occurs when a region of the brain becomes infected with pus as a result of a head injury or trauma. It can also be caused by fungal, viral, or bacterial infections as a result of a weakened immune system in an otherwise healthy body. Dead cells and tissue infected by bacteria and viruses produce pus, which causes swelling in the affected area of the brain. Swelling and pus formation can put pressure on the entire brain, resulting in severe brain damage or death.

Risk factors

Anyone can get a brain abscess, however, the people who are most vulnerable are listed below:

1. HIV/AIDS patients, whose immune systems are compromised
2. A person suffering from severe trauma
3. Cancer diagnosed patients
4. A persistent sinus or middle ear infected person
5. A person suffering from the Tetralogy of Fallot

Symptoms to watch out for

The severe symptoms normally appear gradually over time, but they can also appear unexpectedly.

Watch out for:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Sluggish movement due to lack of muscle function
• Intense pain in the affected area
• Fever and chills
• Personality changes

Treatments

Brain abscess is not fatal and may be treated well with current medical technology; however, if left untreated, it can cause serious complications. Thus, proper medical attention and supervision are essential. The treatment of brain abscesses is as follows:-

1. Antibiotics
   They are used to treat a brain abscess that is less than 2.5 cm deep in the brain. The most typically prescribed antibiotics are broad-spectrum antibiotics, which kill a wide range of micro-organisms.
   
2. Surgery
   Surgery is preferred when the abscess is more than 2.5 cm deep and also in the most severe situations when the abscess causes a deadly buildup of pressure in the brain.