Can a brain abscess be a life threatening condition?

A brain abscess is a pus-filled swelling in the brain. It usually occurs when bacteria or fungi enter the brain tissue after an infection or severe head injury. Although the risk of developing a brain abscess is extremely low in England, it is a life-threatening condition and should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.

How is an abscess removed from the brain?

Draining or removing the abscess — If the abscess can be reached easily and there is little danger of damaging the brain, the abscess may be surgically removed. In other cases, the abscess is drained, either by cutting it or by inserting a needle.

Why did Ms Dalton have a brain abscess?

Ms Dalton’s family took her to hospital during the Covid-19 outbreak, where doctors confirmed the bacteria from her mouth had spread to her brain. The resulting rare brain abscess put Ms Dalton’s life at risk because the swelling can cause potentially fatal brain damage.

What happens if an abscess is left untreated?

Swelling caused by the abscess can disrupt the blood and oxygen supply to the brain. There’s also a risk of the abscess bursting. If left untreated, a brain abscess can cause permanent brain damage and could be fatal. Even if treated, it can lead to complications including brain damage, epilepsy and meningitis.

Can a brain abscess be fatal without treatment?

Without treatment, a brain abscess can be fatal. Most people with a brain abscess are treated successfully. Unfortunately, long-term neurological problems are common even after the abscess is removed and the infection is treated.

What causes an abscess on the side of the brain?

What is a Brain Abscess? A brain abscess is a collection of pus enclosed in the brain tissue, caused by a bacterial or fungal infection. A brain abscess can develop as a complication of an infection, trauma or surgery.

How does direct contagion occur in a brain abscess?

Treating the first infection site can prevent another brain abscess from arising. Direct contagion happens when an infection starts in the skull, perhaps in the nose or ear, and spreads into the central nervous system, and from there into the brain. mastoiditis, an infection of the bone behind the eye

Can a person with HIV get a brain abscess?

They are rare, although people with weakened immune systems (such as people with HIV or those who have received an organ transplant) are more likely to get a brain abscess. This type of infection usually begins in one of these ways: It spreads from a nearby site, such as a middle ear infection, sinus infection or dental abscess.