Southern Nevada physicians are on high alert due to a surprising increase in cases of brain infection among children.
Compared to the average of five instances per year recorded between 2015 and 2021, the Southern Nevada Health District reported 18 cases of kid brain abscesses last year. These are pus-filled pockets in the brain that can be fatal if left untreated.
Intracranial Abscess: What Is It?
Intracranial abscess is an uncommon infection that occurs when germs, such as Streptococcus intermedius, make it to the brain. The nose and throat are common places for this bacteria to live, but when it travels to the brain, it can cause issues.
It was discovered that most of the infected children in Clark County had recently recovered from a cold.
On average, they stayed in the hospital for two weeks, and eighty percent of them had brain surgery to treat the infection, according to health officials.
The average age of the children was 12 years old, and 75% were male. Zero people succumbed to the diseases.
CNN said that after a presentation on the Nevada cases at this week’s Epidemic Intelligence Service Conference, doctors from other parts of the country indicated they are finding similar rises in brain abscesses in children.
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When did Brain Infection Become Common Among Children?
Doctors are seeing an uptick in brain infections in some parts of the country, but the reasons why are still largely mysterious.
The CDC determined that none of the children who became ill in Clark County had experienced any kind of neurosurgical operation or head trauma prior to their illness.
Health officials are still looking into the matter, and last week they released new evidence explaining the rise in infections that occurred in 2022.
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