MEDizzy
MEDizzy
USMLE
CNS
A 3-yr-old girl has a 2-wk history of fever associated with bifrontal headache, lethargy, and vomiting. She has a history of perioral cyanosis and dyspnea with exertion beginning in infancy. She suddenly has a 10-min focal tonic-clonic seizure. The child is obtunded and has a temperature of 100.8°F (38.2°C), pulse of 118/min, and blood pressure of 96/70 mm Hg in her right arm, measured while she is supine. Perioral cyanosis is noted at rest. A harsh pansystolic murmur is heard best along the left sternal border. Examination of her eye grounds reveals bilateral papilledema. She has right-sided weakness associated with hyperreflexia and an extensor plantar reflex. The most likely cause of the hemiparesis is:
Explanation
ExplanationThis young girl has tetralogy of Fallot and a brain abscess resulting in part from the right-to-left cardiac shunt. Predisposing factors for brain abscesses in other patients include chronic otic and sinus infections.
USMLE
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