A brain abscess consists of localized free or encapsulated pus within the brain substance.
Brain abscess is uncommon in children.
It is hardly ever secondary to meningitis however, brain abscess may give rise to meningitis as a consequence of rupture into the ventricle or rarely into the subarachnoid space. In infants, especially neonates, it is often uncertain which came first and the abscess may become very large before it is recognized clinically. It is estimated that brain abscess accounts for approximately 1 in 10,000 general hospital admissions. However, they are extremely rare before the age of 2 years. A brain abscess may occur as a solitary nodule or a multilobular process.