Although fungal infections rarely have extreme complications and can usually be treated with home remedies or over the counter medications, there is one rare complication that can be fatal. A brain abscess is a swelling in the brain that happens when a fungal infection from another part of your body reaches the brain.
In this article, we will be going over brain abscess symptoms, causes, as well as treatment and prevention options.
Brain Abscess Symptoms
Brain abscess presents itself similarly to many other brain or nervous system conditions, and like all those conditions should be treated as a medical emergency. Its common symptoms are:
- Severe headache which can’t be relieved with painkillers;
- Increased confusion, irritability, and other personality changes;
- Nausea and vomiting;
- Muscle weakness and decreased movement;
- Fever, chills, and seizures
What Causes a Brain Abscess?
Between 20 and 50 percent of all brain, abscesses are caused by an infection from another part of the body. Those can be remote infections like those of the heart, lungs, and kidneys, or local infections of the ear, tooth, and sinuses.
Other risk factors include an HIV-compromised immune system, congenital heart disease, and immunosuppressive drugs.
Treatment and Prevention
Diagnosed in time, a small brain abscess can usually be treated with antibiotics that will fight any underlying infections which caused it in the first place. In severe cases, when the abscess is too big and puts pressure on the brain, surgery will be the next step.
You can prevent brain abscess by closely monitoring the conditions that can lead to this complication. Don’t ignore any sinus or ear infections, tooth abscesses, or any of the symptoms mentioned.
Conclusion
We hope this article helps improve your knowledge of brain abscess symptoms, causes, and possible treatment options. Remember, a brain abscess is a very rare complication, but that doesn’t mean its symptoms should be ignored or attributed to another condition.
