title: Experience with brain abscess in the central province of Saudi Arabia.
abstract: The characteristics of brain abscess in the Central Province of Saudi Arabia are outlined in this report which is a review of 22 consecutive cases that were treated at King Khalid University Hospital between 1985-1991. The incidence of brain abscess in Saudi Arabia is calculated to be 3.6 cases/500,000 population/year which is twice as high as the incidence reported from the West. There were 17 males and 5 females with an age range of 8 months-80 years (mean 29.9 years). The parietal lobe was involved in 27%, while the abscess was in the posterior fossa in 14% and multiple in another 14% of cases. The primary source of sepsis was unknown in 50%, post-traumatic in 18% and from a dental and mastoid origin in 14% of cases only. Duration of symptoms ranged between 4-30 days (mean 12 days). Fever was present in 55% of cases and epilepsy in 23%. Sixteen (73%) cases had burr hole aspiration, while 3 (14%) had craniotomy and excision, and 3 (14%) cases were managed with antimicrobial treatment only. Staphylococci were the pathogens in 27%, while streptococci were cultured in 23% cases and the culture was negative in 23%. Three (14%) cases all of which died had fungal abscesses caused by Fonsecaea pedrosoi. The mortality was 18%, good recovery in 68% and fair recovery in 14%. Follow-up was from 3 months to 5.5 years (mean 1.8 years).
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jamjoom
authors.forename: Z A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Jamjoom
authors.lastname: Naim-Ur-Rahman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tahan
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Malabarey
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kambal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome