Brain abscess

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Brain abscess

Nervous system and special senses

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Metabolic disorders

Neurologic pain syndromes

Flashcards

Brain abscess

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Questions

USMLE® Step 1 style questions USMLE

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A 15-year-old girl is brought to the emergency department by her parents due to a sudden onset of seizure. The parents report that during the past few days, the patient has been feeling lethargic with fevers and constant headaches. Medical history is insignificant other than a progressive aching tooth pain the week before. The patient lives with her parents, 2 brothers, a cat, and a dog. Temperature is 38.6°C (101.48°F), pulse is 102/min, and blood pressure is 135/85 mmHg. On physical examination, the patient is postictal but arousable. She speaks fluently, but the words are incomprehensible. Meningeal signs are negative. MRI of the head reveals a ring-enhancing lesion occupying the frontal lobes. Which of the following pathogens is most likely responsible for this patient’s condition?  

Key Takeaways

A brain abscess is a pus-filled mass with a surrounding membrane that develops in or around the brain. This condition can be due to a complication of an infection elsewhere in the body, such as meningitis, sinusitis, or otitis media. It can also develop following trauma to the head or after surgery. Symptoms of a brain abscess include fever, headache, vomiting, and changes in mental status. If left untreated, a brain abscess can lead to seizures, coma, and death.