The Clinical Presentation and Management of Brain Abscess

Introduction: It has been reported to account for 1 – 2% and up to 8% of all intracranial space-occupying lesions in patients in developed and developing countries respectively. Bacteria can invade the brain by direct spread or through hematogenous seedling. Delayed surgical drainage has high morbidity and mortality. The diagnosis of a brain abscess is made with clinical features and investigations.Objective: To determine the frequency of clinical presentations, causative pathogens and their antibiotic sensitivity in patients with brain abscess. Results: The mean SD for age was 22.90 ± 14.0 years, the age range from 3 – 45 years. Male to female ratio was 3:1. The most common signs and symptoms of brain abscess were headache 32 (80%). The common predisposing factor for the formation of brain abscess was ear discharge which is 8 (20%) patients. Conclusion: It is concluded that the awareness of predisposing factors, early recognition of clinical features and understanding of the prevalent microbial profile is imperative for better management of children and adults with brain abscess