Symptoms of a brain abscess

Condition analysis:
The symptoms of a brain abscess may develop quickly or slowly but can include:
-- headache – which is often severe, located in a single section of the head and can't be relieved with painkillers
-- changes in mental state – such as confusion or irritability
-- problems with nerve function – such as muscle weakness, slurred speech or paralysis on one side of the body
-- a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above
-- seizures (fits)
-- nausea and vomiting
-- stiff neck
-- changes in vision – such as blurring, greying of vision or double vision (due to the abscess putting pressure on the optic nerve)

Instructions:
CT scanning and MRI should eventually show a decrease in the size of the lesion, a decrease in accompanying edema, and a lessening of the enhancement ring. Improvement on CT scans is generally observed within 1-4 weeks (average, 2.5 wk) and complete resolution in 1-11 months (average, 3.5 mo).