What is an epidural abscess?

Epidural abscess is a swelling between a spinal or skull and a nervous system. This is usually due to an infection between meninging or membranes covering the brain and spinal cord and bones of the spine or skull. About 90 percent of the time is an epidural abscess bordering on the spine. The most common causes of head and spine abscesses are infections either at the site of the abscess or elsewhere in the body. These infections can be caused by bacteria or fungi, but sometimes an epidural abscess occurs in someone without visible infection.

If there is an abscess between the skull and the brain, it is called intracranial epidural abscess. This type of abscess causes typical symptoms of infections such as fever, nausea and vomiting. It also causes headaches, lethargy and pain at the point of swelling. Intracranial epidural abscess is more likely to occur in patients who have a history of ears or sinusfection, and this may also happen after head surgery or head injury.

If the place of swelling is somewhere along the spine, it is called the fifthEstile epidural abscess. Spinal abscesses can cause problems with intestinal or bladder, such as incontinence or problems. Some patients will also feel back pain, paralysis or weakness. People who have undergone back surgery or recent bloodstream infections are exposed to the highest risk of epidural spine abscesses.

6 The sooner the epidural abscess is diagnosed and treated, the better the prognosis. However, if the symptoms persist to a point where it causes paralysis or severe weakness, it may be a hint that the nerves have been significant and in some cases dams are permanent.

If the patient has symptoms of epidural abscess, the physician usually scans the head area and the back by means of scanning computer tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MRI). After finding an abscess, the doctor may take samples to determine the cause of the infection. Typically has treatmentabscess two components. Patients undergo surgery to release abscess and relieve brain or spinal cord pressure and take strong antibiotics, usually intravenous (IV) lines for four to six weeks.