Husband and I were both shocked. An infection in the brain?
Now we'd heard of a brain infection, mostly from reading about that MRSP thing, that staph bacteria which has proven impervious to all modern antibiotics. A few years ago husband's own mother warned of infections to the brain caused by bad teeth. She begged her son to get his teeth fixed to avoid this very thing.
Which brings up the issue of husband's teeth and let me flash forward here. A subsequent MRI revealed FIVE abscesses on husband's brain. The guy was in serious condition and, indeed, as the infectious disease specialist brought in to help with the lung doc’s diagnosis, the infection from the pneumonia crossed into his brain via some open path in his teeth.
Huh. Okay. Another reason to do something about that.
Well it’s on the todo list.
I would remind that he never had a toothache, never had any infection from his teeth...indeed one could not even tell that his teeth were bad such was the juxtapositon of his mouth, lips and the few really bad teeth. He’s already been seen by a dentist and we were told his teeth weren’t all that bad, that the bottoms one can be saved and he might need a partial plate at top.
Further, it’s not positively proved that his teeth caused the infection. It’s a process by elimination thing. He has a couple of really bad teeth. The infection didn’t get to his brain because of HIV, a defective valve in his heart...two more usual routes of this kind of thing. They ASSUME, but do not know for sure, that it was from his teeth.
He has thirty five years of perfect attendance on two jobs. He never missed any time for sickness of any kind.
I would urge, however, that everyone take care of their teeth and be aware that this CAN happen. It’s extremely, extremely rare.
He’s 56 years old, hardly an old coot.