A case of pediatric brain abscess secondary to rhinosinusitis
Authors: Kara Yalçın 
Published: July 2024

Acute bacterial rhinosinusitis is a common childhood infection and a frequent complication of viral infections or allergic inflammations of the upper respiratory tract. Untreated cases may have serious complications as meningitis, orbital cellulitis, epidural and brain abscesses (1,2). Brain abscesses rarely seen pediatric infections with high mortality and morbidity rates, are mostly observed secondary to extrasinus spread of rhinosinusitis and acute otitis media, hematogenous spread and penetrating trauma (3). The most common predisposing factors are immunodeficiencies, cyanotic heart and hematologic diseases.
A 16-year-old boy was admitted to the emergency service due to seizure. It was learned from his history that he was admitted to the hospital 10 days ago due to headache and high fever. With the diagnosis of acute sinusitis, azithromycin and ornidazole treatment was started, but there was no improvement in his complaints.. On physical examination, clouding of consciousness and postnasal purulent discharge were detected. Remarkable laboratory test results: WBC: 22.500/mm3; platelets 156.000/mm3, C-reactive protein 226 mg/L. Brain tomography revealed a 4-cm suspicious abscess or mass lesion in the right frontal region of the brain compatible with right frontal and ethmoid sinusitis. Upon consultation with pediatric neurology and neurosurgery departments, cranial MRI and MR spectrometry were performed which revealed a lesion compatible with a 4- cm brain abscess, brain edema , shift, and acute sinusitis in the right frontal region. Treatment with cefotaxime, vancomycin and metroinidazole was started for acute sinusitis, and hypertonic sodium infusion and leveteresitam treatment for brain edema. Surgical drainage of the abscess > 2 cm was performed by neurosurgery. Gram staining and culture of the abscess material were unremarkable.
Upon evaluation by pediatric immunology, cardiology and hematology departments, immunodeficiency, cyanotic heart disease and hematologic disease were not detected. The lesion was evaluated as inappropriately treated brain abscess secondary to acute sinusitis. In the 2nd week of treatment, edema surrounding the abscess, shift and pressure regressed, but the the abscess did not shrink, so the treatment with meropenem, vancomycin and metroinidazole was initiated. Antiedema therapy was discontinued, and antibiotherapy was maintained for 9 weeks until the abscess size was < 2 cm. When the abscess shrinked below 1 cm in the control cranial images he was discharged with follow-up recommendations.
Acute bacterial sinusitis is one of the common, and clinically diagnosed infectious diseases of childhood. And current guidelines recommend amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and cephalosporins (ie.cefdinir) as the first-line treatment. Considering the high drug resistance in our country, macrolides are not the first choice in patients without a history of penicillin allergy (2). If not treated appropriately, serious cranial complications preventable with timely appropriate antibiotherapy may develop. Brain abscesses are rare but mortal infectious diseases in childhood. The most common cause is the extrasinus spread of infections such as acute rhinosinusitis (3). Combination of medical and surgical treatment is usually recommended for abscesses > 2 cm. For abscesses < 2 cm and inoperable multiple abscesses only medical treatment is an option. Although the duration of treatment depends on the size, location, causative agent and treatment response, medical treatment is recommended for approximately 6-12 weeks until the abscess is < 2 cm (4)