Cerebral actinomycosis before adolescence.
In a 10-year-old boy presenting with focal seizures and 6 months later with acute right-sided hemiparesis, the diagnosis of a cerebral abscess due to Actinomyces israelii was established. The immunocompetent child suffered from a complex congenital heart disease with pulmonary arteriovenous shunts and pulmonary hypertension causing mild cyanosis. His parents had been reluctant to agree to neuroimaging investigations resulting in a delayed diagnosis. Despite the long interval between first symptoms and commencement of treatment including neurosurgical excision of the abscess followed by a 4-week course of ceftriaxone, a complete recovery of the hemiparesis was observed. This patient is the first case with cerebral actinomycosis before adolescence reported so far.
Olah
E
E
Division of Infectious Diseases, University Children's Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Berger
C
C
Boltshauser
E
E
Nadal
D
D
D000196:Actinomycosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010291:Paresis / Q000382:microbiology; D012640:Seizures / Q000382:microbiology