“Pediatric Brain Abscesses on the Rise in Southern Nevada, Streptococcus Identified as Common Cause”

(Taiwan English News / Zhu Mingzhu comprehensive foreign report) According to the statistics of American hospitals and public health units, in recent years, the number of cases of Pediatric brain abscesses in Southern Nevada has been higher than expected, and the most common bacteria that cause brain abscesses It is streptococcus. Experts remind that although brain abscess is rare, there is still a risk of death if it is not treated in time.

Brain abscess is a purulent inflammation caused by pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, or parasites invading the brain parenchyma, and then forms an abscess. Although it is rare in pediatrics, delayed or improper treatment can lead to serious adverse consequences and even death.

The pathogens of brain abscess are mostly purulent bacteria, such as Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Proteus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and so on. Occasionally, it is caused by Fanshanella, Salmonella typhi and ParaEscherichia coli-like Gram-negative bacilli. About 1/4 is mixed bacterial infection. The source of infection is different, and the pathogenic bacteria are also different. Common symptoms are headache, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, and convulsions.

The Southern Nevada Department of Health says there will be up to four local cases of pediatric brain abscesses per year between 2015 and 2021, and an average of seven cases during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2021, but that number will skyrocket to 18 in 2022. For example, it has increased by about 3 times compared with previous years.

Most of these patients were male, with a median age of 12 years, and the most common bacterial pathogen was Streptococcus intermedia, accounting for about 33%. It is understood that 15 of the 18 patients required craniotomy.

The Health Bureau stated that although there were no deaths, patients still have a risk of death if they do not receive timely treatment.

Since brain abscesses are often caused by streptococcus, which is the cause of many diseases, including strep throat, the number of cases of Streptococcus A (Strep A) in the United States has increased since November last year (2022). Continued rise, whether there is a relationship between the two, experts have not yet answered.