Endocranial Suppurations of Sinus Origin: Ratio of 3 Cases in Children at the Hospital in Mali

Abstract

Introduction: Intracranial suppurations are neoformed purulent collections including, in decreasing order, cerebral abscesses, subdural empyemas and extradural empyemas. Otorhinolaryngologic infections are one of the main causes, especially in older children and adolescents. We report 3 clinical cases of endocranial suppurations treated at the Mali Hospital. Clinical Cases: 1) Observation 1. IK was a 14-year-old boy, who was hospitalized in our department for fever, headache and left hemiplegia. The emergency brain scan showed a right frontal and interhemispheric subdural empyema associated with multifocal sinusitis. Surgical drainage associated with ceftriaxone: 100 mg/Kg/d in direct intravenous (DI), metronidazol: 10 mg/Kgs/12hours in slow intravenous (SI) for 15 days, gentamycin: 3 mg/Kgs/d in SI for 3 days, paracetamol 15 mg/Kgs/6hours in SI, 10% glucose serum: 100 ml/Kg/d were given. The bacteriological analysis of the pus came back sterile. The postoperative period was calm. 2) Observation 2. This was a 14-year-old boy with a history of headaches who was admitted to our department for left hemiplegia. An emergency brain scan showed a right pre-suppurative encephalitis associated with a right fronto-ethmoidal and maxillary sinusitis. He was put on ceftriaxone 100 mg/kg/d in DI for 21 days, gentamycin: 3 mg/Kg/d in SI for 3 days; metronidazole: 10 mg/kg/12hours in SI for 21 days, paracetamol: 15 mg/kg/6hours in SI. After 3 weeks of medical treatment, a follow-up brain scan revealed an interhemispheric and right subdural empyema. Surgical drainage was associated with the triple antibiotic therapy initially instituted. The bacteriological analysis of the pus was sterile. The postoperative course was calm. 3) Observation 3. N.M was an 11-year-old boy, who was admitted with fever and left hemiplegia. An emergency brain scan revealed a right hemispheric subdural empyema associated with an intracerebral abscess and pansinusitis. Surgical drainage associated with ceftriaxone 100 mg/kg/d in DI for 15 days, gentamycin; 3 mg/kg/d in SI for 3 days, metronidazole: 10 mg/kg/12hours in SI for 15 days and paracetamol: 15 mg/kg/6hours in SI were instituted. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in the pus of the abscess. The postoperative course was calm. Conclusion: Endocranial suppurations of sinus origin are serious and frequent infections in children in developing countries. Its diagnosis must be evoked in front of any hemiplegia associated with a fever or headache and confirmed by a cerebral scanner.