Despite considerable improvements in the management of cerebral abscess, this condition still carries a high mortality - 20-30%. The highest mortality figures are secondary to bronchogenic abscess - 70% - and head trauma - 10-20%.
Prognosis is highly dependent on the rapidity and suitability of treatment: if instigated before the onset of coma, mortality is reduced from 50% to 10%.
In the long-term, cerebral abscess has considerable morbidity with neurological impairment in 50% of cases. The most common problems are hemiparesis, dysphasia, and visual field disturbance. Seizures affect at least 30% of the survivors of brain abscesses, and there is some sense in administration of prophylactic anti-epileptics, e.g. phenytoin.
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