<unk>  (or cerebral<unk>  is an<unk>  caused by inflammation and collection of infected material coming from local (ear infection, dental<unk> , infection of paranasal sinuses, infection of the mastoid air cells of the temporal bone, epidural<unk>  or remote (lung, heart, kidney etc.) infectious sources within the<unk>  tissue. The infection may also be introduced through a skull fracture following a head trauma or surgical procedures. Although underlying pathology (tumor, blood, etc.) can sometimes be a nidus for infection, the majority of cases occur in a previously healthy<unk> .<unk>  is usually associated with congenital heart disease in young children. It may occur at any age but is most frequent in the third decade of life. Due to advanced treatments of the ear, sinus, and orofacial infections,<unk>  occurrences are now rare, only present in about 1,500 to 2,500 infections each year in the United States. If left untreated, a<unk>  can be fatal. Common complications include<unk>  rupture, hydrocephalus, and<unk>  herniation. With treatment, the mortality rate decreases to about 10% of the population.
Brain abscess
Subdural empyema
Meninges
Coma
Intracerebral metastases
Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis
Arachnoiditis
Encephalitis