Q. When should infection of the spine be suspected?
A. Chronic backache, progressively increasing, not responding to pain killers may be due to infections like Tuberculosis and Brucella. Fever, weight loss, decrease in appetite may or may not be present.
Bacterial infections can also cause infection of the spine. Persons at risk are patients with diabetes, liver disease, urinary tract infections and other immunocompromising conditions. They usually present with short history of severe backache with fever.
Q. How are these infections diagnosed?
A. MRI spine is the investigation of choice. Aspiration of the pus/ debridement of the tissue should be done to find the causative organism. Surgical removal of the infected material also helps to decrease the load of infection and helps in faster recovery.
Q. Which infections can affect the brain?
A. Meningitis and brain abscess are the two most common infections of brain. Patients present with fever, headache, vomiting, altered sensorium. Weakness of hands/legs/face or other areas of the body may be present.
These can be caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses or tuberculosis.
Patients who undergo brain surgery for brain hemorrhage or trauma, can also develop infection in the hospital, which may be very difficult to treat.
