Disease Type Identified!
Disease: Brain abscess
Type: Intracranial suppuration
Type: Intracranial suppuration
Common Symptoms
The presentation of a brain abscess varies from patient to patient. In 75% of cases symptoms last fewer than two weeks. Headache is the most common symptom. It can either be hemicranial or generalized. Another common symptom is altered mental status. Fewer than 50% of cases may present with fever.
Different symptoms present themselves with different locations of the brain abscess:
> Cerebellar abscesses - nystagmus, ataxia, vomiting, and dysmetria.
> Frontal lobe abscesses - headaches, drowsiness, inattention, and decline in mental function.
> Temporal lobe abscesses - early ipsilateral headaches and, if in the dominant hemisphere, aphasia.
> Intrasellar abscesses - pituitary tumors.
> Brainstem abscesses - facial weakness, headache, fever, hemiparesis, dysphagia, and vomiting.
Different symptoms present themselves with different locations of the brain abscess:
> Cerebellar abscesses - nystagmus, ataxia, vomiting, and dysmetria.
> Frontal lobe abscesses - headaches, drowsiness, inattention, and decline in mental function.
> Temporal lobe abscesses - early ipsilateral headaches and, if in the dominant hemisphere, aphasia.
> Intrasellar abscesses - pituitary tumors.
> Brainstem abscesses - facial weakness, headache, fever, hemiparesis, dysphagia, and vomiting.
Patient Symptoms
Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click here to download the document.
common_patient_symptoms.xlsx | |
File Size: | 40 kb |
File Type: | xlsx |
Common Victims
The age distribution of patients with brain abscesses vary with the cause. The prevalence of brain abscesses increases in immunocompromised patients.
Area of Body/Tissue Types it Tends to Infect
This disease type infects the brain.
Interactions with Humans and Animals
The range of pathogens for brain abscesses is very broad. Many bacteria, fungi, protozoans, and helminths cause brain abscesses.
Reference
David Schlossberg MD, FACP, ed. 2015. Clinical Infectious Disease - 2nd Ed. New York. Cambridge University Press. ISBN-10: 1-107-03891-X, ISBN-13: 978-1-107-03891-2. STAT!Ref Online Electronic Medical Library. https://online-statref-com.lib-ezproxy.tamu.edu:9443/Document.aspx?fxId=388&docId=450. 10/28/2016 11:39:06 PM CDT (UTC -05:00).