Brain abscess

Brain Abscess

A Brain Abscess (pronunciation: /breɪn ˈæbsɛs/) is a collection of pus, immune cells, and other material in the brain, usually from a bacterial or fungal infection.

Etymology

The term "abscess" is derived from the Latin abscessus, meaning "a going away," referring to the "going away" of tissue as it is destroyed to form a pus-filled cavity. The prefix "brain" specifies the location of the abscess.

Definition

A brain abscess is a serious, life-threatening condition that involves the collection of pus in the brain caused by an infection. The pus accumulates in a cerebral hemisphere, brain stem, or cerebellum.

Causes

Brain abscesses are usually caused by a bacterial infection, although they can also be caused by a fungal infection. The most common bacteria that cause brain abscesses are Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Bacteroides.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a brain abscess can include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, neurological deficits, and seizures.

Treatment

Treatment for a brain abscess typically involves a combination of antibiotics, surgery, and, in some cases, antifungal medication.

Related Terms

• Cerebral Hemisphere
• Brain Stem
• Cerebellum
• Streptococcus
• Staphylococcus
• Bacteroides
• Headache
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Neurological Deficits
• Seizures
• Antibiotics
• Surgery
• Antifungal Medication

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Brain abscess
• Wikipedia's article - Brain abscess

This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.

---

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski