A rare case of multiple brain abscesses caused by apical periodontitis of deciduous teeth in congenital heart disease: a case report

Background: A brain abscess is a focal infection in which abscesses form in the brain. A brain abscess is a rare but fatal disease when rupture occurs into the ventricles. We report a case of multiple brain abscesses caused by a hematogenous infection from the apical periodontitis of deciduous teeth.

Case presentation: The patient was a 7-years and 8-months-old male with congenital heart disease. The patient sought medical attention due to fever and headache, for which he was started on three antibiotics with a diagnosis of multiple brain abscesses. Given that apical periodontitis of deciduous teeth was strongly suspected as the source of the brain abscess, the deciduous teeth were extracted. Immediately after deciduous teeth extraction, the patient's headache and neurological symptoms disappeared.

Conclusions: After teeth extraction, a clear shrinkage of the brain abscess was observed, and the patient was discharged from the hospital.