Aetiological role of otolaryngological disease in paediatric intracranial abscess.

Recent reports suggest that congenital heart disease has supplanted otolaryngological disease as the major aetiological factor in the development of paediatric intracranial abscess. A survey of intracranial abscess identified from the records of the Information and Statistics Division of the Scottish Health Service Common Services Agency and the departmental records of the regional neurosurgical units in Scotland for the period 1981-1985 was undertaken to test this hypothesis. A total of 22 cases in individuals under the age of 16 years confirmed at surgery or autopsy were classified aetiologically on the basis of localization, clinical and investigative findings. Three were cardiogenic, four otogenic and three rhinosinugenic in origin; the others were due to miscellaneous causes. The mean(s.d.) age was 9(4.5) years. The overall mortality rate was 18%. Otolaryngological disease is the major aetiological factor in paediatric intracranial abscess in the UK.