Abscess Can Develop After a Brain Injury
One of the complications that people may develop following a blow to the head is called a brain abscess. An abscess is a medical term used to describe a collection of material that has developed within an enclosed space. Typically, abscesses are walled off, separating them from the surrounding environment. Because they are closed off, the immune system and antibiotics can have trouble penetrating the pocket. This makes the treatment process challenging.
Abscesses can develop in almost any location throughout the body, ranging from a limb to the abdomen, chest, and brain. When someone develops a brain abscess following a TBI, this can lead to serious complications that need to be addressed immediately.
How Does a Brain Abscess Develop?
There are two common ways that someone can develop a brain abscess. In the first method, bacteria, viruses, or other types of infections travel to the brain using the body’s bloodstream. The diseases can start in the chest, the abdomen, or the ear. Then, they migrate to the brain tissue. Over time, the infection grows into a full-blown abscess.
Another way a brain abscess can develop is by entering through the skull directly. When the skull is intact, it is nearly impossible for any infectious source to go through the bony surface and infect the brain tissue. However, if someone sustains a penetrating brain injury, particularly with a contaminated object, infectious material can make direct contact with the soft tissue underneath the skull. Glass, metal, and shrapnel might play host to a variety of bacteria. If these objects penetrate the skull, they can lead to the development of a brain abscess.
Symptoms of an Abscess in the Brain
If someone has developed this severe complication following a brain injury, several symptoms might arise. First, people will start to develop severe headaches. Notably, it might take some time for the headaches to develop because the infection might not progress quickly. As the abscess grows, the headaches will get worse because the pressure inside the skull will start to change. Depending on the location of the abscess within the brain, someone might also begin to develop seizures. Because this is a severe infection, people will also develop a fever. This fever will come and go. However, over time, the fever will get worse. It may not respond effectively to anti-inflammatory medications, such as Tylenol or Motrin. People might also notice problems with their vision and hearing, depending on the location of the abscess within the brain.
How is it Treated?
If someone presents to the doctor with signs and symptoms of a brain abscess, the first step will be to localize the infection within the brain. The physician may order a CT scan or an MRI to figure out exactly where the abscess is located. After this, a neurosurgeon will likely be called. Many abscesses cannot be treated effectively without incision and drainage. Because the infection is walled off, antibiotics often have a hard time penetrating the area.
A trained neurosurgeon will drain the fluid pocket, treating the infection. Then, antibiotics will be administered to kill any leftover bacteria. If treated quickly, most people will make a full recovery.
Watch YouTube Video: Brain Abscess: Etiology, Pathogenesis, Clinical Manifestations, Diagnosis & Treatment. In the following video, Dr. G.Bhanu Prakash provides an overview of brain abscess, it’s diagnosis and treatment.
Chico Brain Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Chico Brain Injury Lawyer. A brain abscess is a serious complication that might develop following a head injury. If you or someone you know has sustained a brain injury in a traumatic accident, please call me at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice.
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