Forehead carbuncle with intractable headache

Abstract

Ping-yin Chou,1,* Yin-Chun Chen,2,* Poyin Huang3,4 1Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; 2Department of Dermatology, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; 3Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; 4Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan *These authors contributed equally to this work Abstract: Although carbuncles are commonly seen and may heal on their own or respond well to treatment, in rare conditions, bacteria from carbuncles can spread into the bloodstream and migrate to other areas of the body. Herein, we report on an elderly female who suffered from forehead carbuncle with intractable headache, later confirmed as having subgaleal abscess. Physicians should pay special attention to elderly and immune-compromised patients with carbuncles located on the middle of the face, especially when accompanied by intractable headache, to avoid poor outcome. Keywords: carbuncle, headache, subgaleal abscess