title: [Brain abscess in children].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Brain abscess is a rare infection in infants. Morbidity and mortality are high but have decreased due to advances in neuroimaging studies and the use of new antibiotics. We describe six cases of brain abscess diagnosed at the Gregorio Marañón Children's Hospital between January 1996 and September 2003.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective chart review of patients with brain abscess. The variables analyzed were age, sex, clinical symptoms and signs, radiological studies, etiology, therapy, and clinical outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age ranged from 8 to 15 years (mean age: 11 years). There were three girls and three boys. The most frequent symptoms were neurological with associated sinusitis in four patients, congenital cyanogenic cardiopathy in one patient and meningitis in one patient. Diagnosis was established through computed tomography (CT) of the brain in five patients and through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in one patient. In five patients the abscess was located in the frontal lobe. All patients received broad-spectrum antibiotics and five underwent surgical drainage. Two patients had neurological sequelae.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although rare, brain abscess should be considered in patients with neurological manifestations associated with otorhinolaryngological infections or congenital cyanotic cardiopathy. When suspected, a CT or MRI must be performed to rule out this diagnosis and, if confirmed, prompt therapy with broad-spectrum antibiotics should be started. Surgical drainage may be needed.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Materno-Infantil Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain. MICOMIX@terra.es
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Borrego Domínguez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Navarro Gómez
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gómez-Campderá
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carreras Fernández
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male