Contents:
- Medical Video: Hepatic Abscess or Liver Abscess (Pyogenic, Hydatid, Amoebic abscess)
- What causes amebic liver abscesses?
- What are the factors that increase the risk of amebic liver abscesses?
- What are the signs and symptoms of amebic liver abscess?
- What diagnostic tests are commonly used for amebic liver abscesses?
- How to treat an amebic liver abscess?
- What are the complications of an amebic liver abscess?
Medical Video: Hepatic Abscess or Liver Abscess (Pyogenic, Hydatid, Amoebic abscess)
Amebic liver abscess is a type of liver abscess, or a collection of pus in the liver caused by a parasitic infection. Pus is a liquid made from white blood cells, dead cells and bacteria. This can cause pain and swelling in the stomach. If left untreated, amebic liver abscesses can be life threatening.
What causes amebic liver abscesses?
Amebic liver abscess is caused by a parasite called Entamoeba histolytica. This is the same parasite that causes it amebiasis, an intestinal infection also known as amoebic dysentery. After the infection occurs, the parasite can move through the blood to the liver.
You can get this parasite by eating food or water that has been contaminated with feces. This is usually caused by handling unhealthy foods and poor hygiene habits.
Infection occurs throughout the world, but is most often in the tropics where living conditions are dense and sanitation is poor. Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and India have significant health problems from this disease.
What are the factors that increase the risk of amebic liver abscesses?
There are many risk factors associated with amebic liver abscesses. These risk factors may include:
- Alcoholism
- Cancer
- Immunosuppression includes HIV infection
- Malnutrition
- Old age
- Pregnant
- Living in the tropics
- Use of steroids
If you have questions about risk factors, you should talk to your doctor for more information.
What are the signs and symptoms of amebic liver abscess?
Amebic liver abscess can cause many signs and symptoms. This might include:
- Pain that is located on the right side of the abdomen that is continuous or piercing
- Cough
- Fever and chills
- Diarrhea
- Discomfort in the stomach, anxiety, or feeling sick (malaise)
- Non-stop hiccups (rare)
- Yellowing on the skin or eyes (jaundice)
- Loss of appetite
- Sweating
- Abnormal weight loss.
You should contact your doctor if you develop any of the symptoms mentioned above. Tell your doctor if you travel anywhere where parasites are most common.
What diagnostic tests are commonly used for amebic liver abscesses?
To provide the right diagnosis, your doctor may request the following tests:
- Ultrasound of the abdomen
- Abdominal CT scan or MRI
- Complete blood test
- Liver abscess to check for bacterial infections in liver abscesses
- Liver scan
- Liver function tests
- Serology for amebiasis
- Stool testing for amebiasis.
How to treat an amebic liver abscess?
The first thing your doctor will do is drain the abscess. This can be done as a simple procedure in your doctor's office. The choice of treatment usually depends on the severity of your condition. In most cases, you need to take anti-parasitic drugs such as metronidazole (Flagyl) or tinidazole (Tindamax). Other drugs such as paromomycin or diloxanide can also be used to eliminate all amoeba in the intestine and prevent disease from coming back. This treatment can usually be delayed until after an abscess has been treated.
What are the complications of an amebic liver abscess?
Without treatment, an abscess can break open (rupture) and spread into other organs, causing death. Treated people have a very high chance of complete recovery or the risk of minor complications.
Abscesses can rupture into the abdominal cavity, lining the lungs, lungs, or sacs around the heart. Infection can also spread to the brain.
