Question

A patient is reported to have a brain abscess in the occipital lobe. When assessing the patient, which symptoms would the nurse expect to find? Select all that apply.

a) Visual field defects
b) Headache and fever
c) Nausea and vomiting
d) Psychomotor seizures
e) Visual impairment and hallucinations

Answer 1

A brain abscess in the occipital lobe can cause symptoms such as visual field defects, headache and fever, psychomotor seizures, and visual impairment and hallucinations.

Step-by-step explanation:

A brain abscess in the occipital lobe can cause various symptoms depending on the location and size of the abscess. Some common symptoms associated with a brain abscess in the occipital lobe include:

• Visual field defects: The occipital lobe is responsible for processing visual information, so an abscess in this area can lead to visual field defects, such as loss of peripheral vision or blind spots.
• Headache and fever: These are non-specific symptoms that can occur with any type of brain infection, including a brain abscess.
• Psychomotor seizures: Seizures can occur if the abscess irritates the surrounding brain tissue.
• Visual impairment and hallucinations: Visual impairment and hallucinations can occur if the abscess affects the visual processing areas in the occipital lobe.