January 1, Mysterious Brain Infection Striking Kids

Folks, I’ve been reading the news about the recent surge of rare and serious brain abscesses in kids in and around Las Vegas, Nevada, and it has me deeply concerned. I don’t know if this is something we can simply shrug off and hope it goes away on its own. We need to take this seriously and do everything in our power to find out what’s causing it and put an end to it.

As Dr. Taryn Bragg, an associate professor at the University of Utah, stated, in her 20 years of experience, she has never seen anything like this before.

The number of brain abscesses in kids tripled in Nevada in 2022, rising from an average of 4 to 5 a year to 18. That’s a mighty big increase. Yes the number itself is small, but the change is staggering.

The similarities in terms of the presentation of cases are striking, with almost every case having a “common childhood complaint such as an earache or a sinus infection with a headache and fever, and within about a week, it becomes clear that something more serious is going on.”

It’s not just happening in Nevada either. Doctors from other parts of the country are reporting similar increases in brain abscesses in kids. Dr. Sunil Sood, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Northwell Health, estimates they are seeing at least twice as many as usual, though they haven’t done a formal count.

This is not a time to panic, but it is a time to take action.

We need to urge the CDC to continue investigating and work to get the word out. Parents need to be aware of the signs and symptoms and seek medical attention immediately if their child experiences any of them.

We need to support our medical professionals who are on the front lines of this battle and work together to find a solution.

We don’t know what’s causing this surge in brain abscesses, but we do know that it’s a serious issue that needs to be addressed. Let’s come together as a community to find answers and protect our children’s health.

Sources: CDC , CNN