Brain Abscess

An abscess in the brain of an otherwise healthy person is usually caused by bacterial infection. Fungal brain abscesses tend to occur in people with weakened immune systems. The infection will cause your brain to swell from the collection of pus and dead cells that forms.

A brain abscess forms when fungi, viruses, or bacteria reach your brain through a wound in your head or an infection somewhere else in your body. According to the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, infections from other parts of the body account for between 20 and 50 percent of all brain abscess cases. Heart and lung infections are among the most common causes of brain abscesses. However, brain abscesses can also begin from an ear or sinus infection, or even an abscessed tooth.

See your doctor right away if you think you may have a brain abscess. You’ll need the appropriate treatment to prevent any brain damage from the swelling.

What are the risk factors?

Nearly anyone can get a brain abscess, but certain groups of people are at a higher risk than others. Some diseases, disorders, and conditions that raise your risk include:

• A compromised immune system due to HIV or AIDS
• cancer and other chronic illnesses
• congenital heart disease
• major head injury or skull fracture

What are the symptoms of a brain abscess?

Symptoms usually develop slowly over several weeks, but they can also come on suddenly. Symptoms you should watch for are:

• Differences in mental processes, such as increased confusion, decreased responsiveness, and irritability
• Differences in mental processes, such as increased confusion, decreased responsiveness, and irritability
• Decreased sensation
• Decreased movement due to loss of muscle function
• Changes in vision
• Changes in personality or behavior
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Chills
• Sensitivity to light