Subdural Empyema Complicating Sinusitis

Abstract Acute sinusitis is a common childhood illness most often involving the ethmoid and maxillary sinuses. Diagnosis is usually based on a history of an upper respiratory tract infection lasting longer than 7 days with a prominent nasal component. Treatment involves 10–14 days of antibiotics. In...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of emergency medicine 2008-10, Vol.35 (3), p.277-281
Main Authors: Waseem, Muhammad, MD, Khan, Saqiba, MD, Bomann, Scott, MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
brain abscess
Emergency
Empyema, Subdural - diagnostic imaging
Empyema, Subdural - etiology
Empyema, Subdural - surgery
Ethmoid Sinusitis - complications
Ethmoid Sinusitis - diagnostic imaging
Frontal Sinusitis - complications
Frontal Sinusitis - diagnostic imaging
Humans
Male
sinusitis
subdural empyema
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Summary:Abstract Acute sinusitis is a common childhood illness most often involving the ethmoid and maxillary sinuses. Diagnosis is usually based on a history of an upper respiratory tract infection lasting longer than 7 days with a prominent nasal component. Treatment involves 10–14 days of antibiotics. Intracranial complications of pediatric sinusitis are rare, but potentially life-threatening. These include cavernous sinus thrombosis, orbital and intracranial extension, and meningitis. Children with these complications may experience significant morbidity from their infection. In such cases, delay in diagnosis and treatment may lead to irreparable brain damage or death. We report a case of sinusitis causing a subdural empyema in an otherwise healthy immunocompetent adolescent boy.
ISSN:0736-4679
2352-5029
DOI:10.1016/j.jemermed.2007.07.019