Diffuse cervico-facial cellulitis of dental origin is a serious, potentially fatal condition that may be responsible for
focal affections or distant infections. We report a case of intracerebral suppuration following a diffuse cellulitis of
dental origin in a recently delivered woman.
Observation: It was a 30-year-old housewife living in a rural area of Burkina Faso, was seen at 10 days postpartum
of a stillborn child for inflammatory swelling of the left hemiface following odontalgia that had been evolving for
more than 2 weeks. Clinical and paraclinical examinations led to the diagnosis of diffuse cervicofacial cellulitis.
The patient received probabilistic antibiotic therapy and surgical drainage of the facial suppuration under local
anesthesia. The evolution was marked by the appearance of signs of cerebral localization and the cerebral CT
scan performed found a homolateral left temporal brain abscess. The patient was referred to neurosurgery for
further treatment and died a few days after leaving the hospital against medical advice for lack of financial
means.
Conclusion: Focal cerebral infections of dental origin are serious and fatal. Only prevention could improve their
prognosis.

Brain abscess Dental cellulitis Burkina Faso