Incidence and Predisposing factors of Brain Abscess in Children at a Tertiary Care Center Dera Ghazi Khan

Abstract

Objective: A cross sectional study was aimed to investigate the incidence and predisposing factors of brain abscess in children.
 Material and Methods: The study was conducted in the departments of Neurosurgery and Pediatric Surgery, Ghazi Khan Medical College and Hospital DG khan. Thirty two children with brain abscess were enrolled in the study. A diagnosis of brain abscess was made on clinical and radiological basis. T-test and chi square were applied to see the association between variables.
 Results: Most common location of Abscess was found as frontal in 21.9% patients, temporo parietal in 53.1% patients and occipital in 25.0% patients. Streptococci was the most common microorganism on culture reported, noted in 46.9% patients. Major predisposing factors (p = 0.000) and location of abscess (p = 0.003) were the effect modifiers for microorganism on culture reports.
 Conclusion: Streptococci was the most common abscess causing microorganism causing about 47% of total abscess causing pathogens. Main predisposing factors were: otitis media, cyanotic heart disease and post head injury otorrhea.
 Keywords: Brain abscess; Children; Otogenic brain abscess; Otitis media, Seizures; Streptococci.

Factors Associated with Mortality in Children with Congenital Heart Disease and Cerebral Abscess

“…Children account for about 25% of all cerebral abscess cases in the general population, primarily affecting those aged 4-7 years old [1]. The incidence is more common in boys than girls, with varied ratios ranging from 2:1 to 3:1 [2]. Despite the advancements in managing the etiology of cerebral abscess, late-treated patients, especially in low-resource countries, are still common, leaving a high burden of mortality and morbidity.…”