What is a brain abscess?
A Brain Abscess is a localized pocket of infection. Just like when a surface wound becomes infected and swells, an infection in the brain causes swelling and forms an abscess. Abscesses form quickly. As the infection enters the brain it creates a round pocket that grows as the infection spreads. Often there is an area of fluid or pus in the center of the abscess which can expand produce pressure on the surrounding brain tissue causing the intracranial pressure to increase. The increasing pressure may cause certain brain activities to malfunction. The brain is a delicate machine and must maintain a constant internal pressure to function properly, so as the area of infection swells, the increased intracranial pressure (ICP) threatens the normal functioning of the brain and can lead to severe brain damage. With the use of MRIs and the development of effective antibiotics, abscesses are rarely fatal if they are diagnosed promptly. To enter the brain an infection needs a clear pathway to it
