An unexpected intracranial pressure crisis: infant brain abscess of unusual aetiology

BackgroundBrain abscess in infants is extremely rare in the developed world. Often, these children have a predisposing history and are infected with certain bacterial aetiology.Case historyA 3-month-old boy presented to the hospital emergently with an increased intracranial pressure crisis. All predisposing factors such as maternal history, family history or the infant’s medical history were entirely free of suggestive aetiological pathology. Neuroimaging revealed a complex mass lesion for which differential diagnosis included neoplasm and brain abscess. We will report on the surgical and medical intervention as well as patient outcome.DiscussionA focus will be placed on the rare pathology discovered and a short review of the literature on the aetiology of this child’s brain lesion will be included as well as support for the management steps taken.ConclusionsBrain abscess in infants is often extremely serious and overwhelming. Concluding topics will focus on contradictions to expected outcome as well as prognostic prospects for patients with this type of devastating disease.