Single-center experience and evaluation of rare ıntracranial abscesses in childhood
Abstract Background Intracranial abscess (IA) is a rare disorder in childhood. Clinical manifestations of brain abscess include headache, fever, and focal neurological deficits. This study aimed to examine the demographic, clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings in children with IA. Methods Child...
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BMC
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Italian Journal of Pediatrics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-025-01895-y |
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| author | Nihal Yildiz Zeynep Gökçe Gayretli Aydin |
| author_facet | Nihal Yildiz Zeynep Gökçe Gayretli Aydin |
| author_sort | Nihal Yildiz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Intracranial abscess (IA) is a rare disorder in childhood. Clinical manifestations of brain abscess include headache, fever, and focal neurological deficits. This study aimed to examine the demographic, clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings in children with IA. Methods Children admitted to the pediatric infection service with a diagnosis of IA between 2011 and 2022 were included in the study. Abscesses were divided into two groups: infratentorial and supratentorial. Demographic characteristics of the patients, complaints, MRI findings, and follow-up data were recorded and compared between the two groups. Results The study included a total of 23 patients, 9 (39.1%) of whom were male, with a mean age at diagnosis of 79.3 ± 65.4 months. The most common complaints were headache (39.1%), fever (91.3%), focal neurological deficits (60.9%), seizures, loss of consciousness (26.1%), and meningitis findings (60.9%). The most frequent etiology was post-operative procedures (30.4%), followed by a history of meningomyelocele (13%), and congenital heart disease (8.7%). On MRI, 68.7% of the supratentorial abscesses were multiple and commonly localized in the frontal and parietal regions. Treatment included ceftriaxone (82.6%), vancomycin (65.2%), meropenem (43.5%), metronidazole (34.8%), and linezolid (17.4%). The median hospitalization duration for patients was 32 days (range: 14–150). Of the patients, 34.8% were hospitalized and followed in the intensive care unit, and neurosurgery performed surgical interventions in 60.9% of cases, with evacuation in 21.7% of cases. In cultures, the causative agent was identified on average within 4 ± 1.3 days. Recurrence of abscess occurred in three (13%) cases, and 13% of cases had residual sequelae. Conclusions Intracranial abscess is a rare infectious disease that can result in long-term neurological deficits requiring extended follow-up and treatment. A correct and effective approach also positively impacts the prognosis of patients. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5c29a11312c844079600c9cfad8c1a41 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1824-7288 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Italian Journal of Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-5c29a11312c844079600c9cfad8c1a412025-02-09T12:48:05ZengBMCItalian Journal of Pediatrics1824-72882025-02-015111510.1186/s13052-025-01895-ySingle-center experience and evaluation of rare ıntracranial abscesses in childhoodNihal Yildiz0Zeynep Gökçe Gayretli Aydin1Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit UniversityFaculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit UniversityAbstract Background Intracranial abscess (IA) is a rare disorder in childhood. Clinical manifestations of brain abscess include headache, fever, and focal neurological deficits. This study aimed to examine the demographic, clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings in children with IA. Methods Children admitted to the pediatric infection service with a diagnosis of IA between 2011 and 2022 were included in the study. Abscesses were divided into two groups: infratentorial and supratentorial. Demographic characteristics of the patients, complaints, MRI findings, and follow-up data were recorded and compared between the two groups. Results The study included a total of 23 patients, 9 (39.1%) of whom were male, with a mean age at diagnosis of 79.3 ± 65.4 months. The most common complaints were headache (39.1%), fever (91.3%), focal neurological deficits (60.9%), seizures, loss of consciousness (26.1%), and meningitis findings (60.9%). The most frequent etiology was post-operative procedures (30.4%), followed by a history of meningomyelocele (13%), and congenital heart disease (8.7%). On MRI, 68.7% of the supratentorial abscesses were multiple and commonly localized in the frontal and parietal regions. Treatment included ceftriaxone (82.6%), vancomycin (65.2%), meropenem (43.5%), metronidazole (34.8%), and linezolid (17.4%). The median hospitalization duration for patients was 32 days (range: 14–150). Of the patients, 34.8% were hospitalized and followed in the intensive care unit, and neurosurgery performed surgical interventions in 60.9% of cases, with evacuation in 21.7% of cases. In cultures, the causative agent was identified on average within 4 ± 1.3 days. Recurrence of abscess occurred in three (13%) cases, and 13% of cases had residual sequelae. Conclusions Intracranial abscess is a rare infectious disease that can result in long-term neurological deficits requiring extended follow-up and treatment. A correct and effective approach also positively impacts the prognosis of patients.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-025-01895-yBrain absessesBrain infectious diseasesChildhoodPediatric brain abscessesDemographicsEtiology |
| spellingShingle | Nihal Yildiz Zeynep Gökçe Gayretli Aydin Single-center experience and evaluation of rare ıntracranial abscesses in childhood Italian Journal of Pediatrics Brain absesses Brain infectious diseases Childhood Pediatric brain abscesses Demographics Etiology |
| title | Single-center experience and evaluation of rare ıntracranial abscesses in childhood |
| title_full | Single-center experience and evaluation of rare ıntracranial abscesses in childhood |
| title_fullStr | Single-center experience and evaluation of rare ıntracranial abscesses in childhood |
| title_full_unstemmed | Single-center experience and evaluation of rare ıntracranial abscesses in childhood |
| title_short | Single-center experience and evaluation of rare ıntracranial abscesses in childhood |
| title_sort | single center experience and evaluation of rare intracranial abscesses in childhood |
| topic | Brain absesses Brain infectious diseases Childhood Pediatric brain abscesses Demographics Etiology |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-025-01895-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nihalyildiz singlecenterexperienceandevaluationofrareıntracranialabscessesinchildhood AT zeynepgokcegayretliaydin singlecenterexperienceandevaluationofrareıntracranialabscessesinchildhood |