Brain abscess

Abstract

Brain abscess is one of central nervous system infection which is uncommon but it is a serious and life-threatening condition. Pathogenesis of brain abscess is the spreading of infection from other areas of body or surrounding organs into brain; therefore, pathogens of brain abscess are variable. After pathogens spread into the brain, they result in cerebritis and abscess formation respectively. Symptoms and signs of brain abscess resemble those of brain tumor which are the symptoms from space-occupying lesion. The investigation for this disease includes laboratory test and neuroimaging. Patients with brain abscess should be treated urgently after diagnosis. The treatment consists of medication, importantly, antibiotics, and surgery which can reduce symptoms rapidly and can collect specimens for culture. Currently, surgical technique has been further developed to improve outcome and decrease morbidity and mortality of brain abscess significantly.

Key words: Brain abscess, Pathogenesis, Investigation, Treatment