Brain abscess is a rare enough pathology, in which an abscess is formed in the substance of the brain, limited to a serous capsule.
Stages of abscess of the brain
Through the study of micropreparations it was established that the process of formation of an abscess in the brain tissues can be divided into several stages:
- 1-3 days - limited inflammation of the brain tissue (at this stage inflammation is reversible);
- 4-9 day - progression of the inflammatory focus with the formation of a purulent cavity in its center;
- 10-13 days - the formation around the purulent cavity of the protective connective tissue capsule, which prevents the spread of the pathological process;
- with 3 weeks - sealing the capsule, increasing the internal volume of the purulent cavity, forming around the gliosis zone.
Causes of brain abscess
This pathology is secondary, with the main methods and factors of infection in the brain tissue are:
- open craniocerebral injury;
- infection of the wound during neurosurgical operations;
- purulent processes in the paranasal sinuses and hearing organs ( sinusitis , otitis);
- infection of orbits;
- Infectious inflammation of the lungs or heart (pneumonia, lung abscess, pleural empyema, endocarditis and other pathologies in which an infected thrombus can enter with blood flow into the brain vessels);
- osteomyelitis ;
- sepsis, and others.
Symptoms of Brain Abscess
Manifestations of pathology are quite diverse, not always specific, similar to the clinical picture of other intracranial volume formations, and in many respects depend on the location and size of the abscess. In most cases, the following symptoms are present:
- a headache of varying intensity (sensed either in a certain zone or spilled);
- nausea, vomiting, not associated with food intake (vomiting does not bring relief);
- constant weakness, lethargy;
- tension of the occipital muscles;
- increased reaction to external stimuli (light, sound);
- fainting;
- increased body temperature;
- epileptic seizures;
- impairment of sight, hearing, speech, coordination of movements;
- paralysis;
- mental disorders, etc.
Consequences of brain abscess
Dangerous complications of the disease in the absence of adequate medical care can be:
- breakthrough abscess;
- osteomyelitis of the bones of the skull;
- epilepsy.
Treatment of cerebral abscess
The main methods of treatment in this case are:
- antibiotic therapy;
- removal of pus from the abscess cavity by means of puncture, washing with antibacterial solutions;
- elimination of the abscess together with the capsule through an open operation.
It may also be necessary to administer nootropic drugs.