J Korean Neurol Assoc.  1985 Dec;3(2):210-216.

Clinical Studies of Brain Abscess in Children

• Lee YH
• Go CJ

Abstract

Clinical investigation of 20 cases of brain abscess has been done at the dept of Pediatric Yonsei Medical Center, who had been treated during the period of 8 years from January 1977 through Jun 1985. Following results has been obtained: 1. Of 20 patients, 14 patient was male and the rest 6 was female rating M:F ratio 2.3:1 and the youngest patient was undler 1 year, the oldest one was 15 years old. 2. The chief complaints at admission were headache, fever, vomiting in order of frequency, while neurologic signs were neck stiffiness, hemiparesis, papilledema etc. 3. The preceeding causative diseases of brain abscess were diseases involving ENT 15%, congenital heart disease 20%, head trauma 35% and the rest 20% the etiology of brain abscess was not determined. The abscess tended to occure at temporoparietal area in the cases associated with otitis media while abscess originating from congenital heart diseases tended to occure multiple area. 4. 10 cases out of 20 had lumbar puncture under the suspision of meningitis, 2 cases manifested normal CSF finding. Patients who has focal neurologic finding associated with OMPC or congenital heart disease should suspect for brain abscess, which can be easily conform by brain C-T scan as well as patient who manifested unusual clinical course. 5. Factor relating prognosis were mental state and duriation between onset of clinical symptom and time starting treatment; clear mental state and short duration reflect better prognosis. 6. The motality rate was 33%, and the neurologic sequelas were hemiparesis (36.4%), mental deficit (18.2), dysarthria, epilepsy, hydrocephalus and blindness.

MeSH Terms

Abscess
Adolescent
Blindness
Brain Abscess*
Brain*
Child*
Craniocerebral Trauma
Dysarthria
Epilepsy
Female
Fever
Headache
Heart Defects, Congenital
Heart Diseases
Humans
Hydrocephalus
Male
Meningitis
Neck
Neurologic Manifestations
Otitis Media
Papilledema
Paresis
Prognosis
Spinal Puncture
Vomiting