Symptom 6: Nausea and Vomiting
When a brain abscess sets in, the symptoms are not always restricted to neurological or cognitive disruptions. Quite often, gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea and vomiting may also be present. These may seem like everyday issues, but when linked with other symptoms discussed here, they could indicate a brain abscess.
Nausea is usually one of the initial symptoms. It’s that uneasy sensation you get right before you feel like you might vomit. It can occur with or without the actual act of vomiting and is often linked to the increased intracranial pressure caused by the abscess. The body reacts to this unusual pressure in the brain by eliciting a feeling of nausea.
Vomiting, on the other hand, is more direct and can be quite distressing. This is more than just the typical upset stomach. It’s a forceful emptying of the stomach contents and can be exceptionally severe in the morning or when changing positions. It’s the body’s dramatic response to the changes happening inside the brain.
A notable aspect of vomiting linked to brain abscess is that it typically doesn’t provide relief. Usually, when you vomit due to a stomach bug or something you ate, you’d feel a certain sense of relief afterward. However, with a brain abscess, the vomiting doesn’t alleviate the nausea or discomfort.
It’s also essential to mention that the nausea and vomiting associated with a brain abscess are usually accompanied by other symptoms, such as persistent headaches. It’s the combination of these symptoms that should ring alarm bells. (6)
