AllRefer Health - Caring for your Well Being  

Home | About | FAQs | Contact Us

AllRefer Channels :: Yellow Pages | Reference | Health  

Diseases & Conditions
Select & Go
 Diet & Nutrition
 Diseases & Conditions 
 Health News
 Injuries & Wounds
 Poisons & Overdoses
 Surgery & Procedures 
 Symptoms Guide
 Special Topics
 Tests & Exams
 Pictures & Images
 Medical Encyclopedia
Google
  Web health.allrefer.com   

You are here : AllRefer.com > Health > Diseases & Conditions > Epidural Abscess

Epidural Abscess

Provided by A.D.A.M.

Definition

Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

Symptoms & Signs

Prevention

Diagnosis & Tests

Treatment

Expectations or Prognosis

Complications

Calling Your Health Care Provider

Go To Main Page

Alternate Names : Abscess - Epidural, Spinal Abscess

Definition

An epidural abscess is an inflammation that includes a collection of infected material (pus) located between the outer membrane covering the brain and spinal cord (the dura) and the bones of the skull or spine.

Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

An epidural abscess is caused by infection in the area between the bones of the skull or spine, and the outer meninges (the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord). This infection is classified as an intracranial epidural abscess if it is located in the skull area, or as a spinal epidural abscess if it is found in the spine area.

The infection is usually caused by bacteria (staphylococcus is common), but some may be caused by fungus. Infected material (pus) frequently includes destroyed tissue cells, white blood cells, and live or dead microorganisms which may wall off into an abscess. There is often inflammation of the tissues around the abscess in response to the infection.

Most symptoms are due to enlargement of the abscess and surrounding inflammation, which can lead to tissue compression in the brain and spinal cord.

The infection can result from the spread of nearby infections or it may be caused by microorganisms that spread from distant locations via the bloodstream. However, in up to one-third of patients, there is no identified source of infection.

In the case of an intracranial epidural abscess (within the skull), risk factors include: chronic ear infections, mastoiditis, chronic sinusitis, in addition to head injury and recent neurosurgery.

A spinal epidural abscess may be seen in patients with bone infections of the vertebral column (vertebral osteomyelitis), skin infections such as boils, bloodstream infections, and after back surgery or other invasive procedures involving the spine. People who inject drugs are also at increased risk.

Epidural abscess is a rare disorder. Nine out of ten cases are located in the spine (spinal epidural abscess). The infection may spread into the bones of the spine or skull (osteomyelitis). It may also spread into the spinal fluid and cause meningitis, or lead to a brain abscess, or a spinal cord abscess.


<

^ Top

>


Jump to another section

Definition
Epidural Abscess Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Epidural Abscess Symptoms & Signs
Epidural Abscess Prevention
Epidural Abscess Diagnosis & Tests
Epidural Abscess Treatment
Epidural Abscess Prognosis
Epidural Abscess Complications
Calling Your Health Care Provider

Review Date : 1/3/2003
Reviewed By : Camille Kotton, M.D., Infectious Diseases Division, Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

Main Page of Epidural Abscess







Featured Topics

Alzheimer's Disease

High Blood Pressure

Crohn's Disease

Impotence

Overactive Bladder


ADAM

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial reviewers. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2003 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify.
This site complies to the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
Copyright © 2009 AllRefer.com All Rights reserved.
Health Topics: A-Al Am-Az B C-Cj Ck-Cz D E F G H I J K L M N O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q R S-Sl Sm-Sz T U V W X Y Z 0-9
About Us | Help | Privacy Policy | Editorial Policy | Advertising Policy | Accessibility | Terms of Use
Contact Us | Link to Us | User Satisfaction Survey | Healthopedia.com
Page Last Updated: 22 Nov, 2009