WHAT IS A LIVER ABSCESS?
MICROORGANISMS CAUSING LIVER ABSCESS
SYMPTOMS OF LIVER ABSCESS
TESTS NEEDED TO CONFIRM THE CONDITION
TREATMENT OF LIVER ABSCESS
What is a Liver Abscess?
An abscess is a collection of pus and dead tissue that occurs due to infection and can form anywhere in the body. When abscess-forming germs (microorganisms) reach the liver, they lodge at a particular location in the liver. These locations can be single or multiple in number. There these microbes start causing damage to the liver cells and resulting in pus formation. This is called a liver abscess. Hence, it is an infective condition of the liver.
Microorganisms Causing Liver Abscess?
Liver abscess is a common problem in the Southeast Asian region and in India. It is much less frequently seen in the western world. This is because it is caused by microorganisms that are more endemic to this region. They are transmitted through faeco- oral route, that is through unhygienic food in which they are present. Entamoeba or amoeba is the most common of these microbes. Other common ones are Mycobacterium tuberculosis or tuberculosis, Salmonella typhi or typhoid.
Symptoms of Liver Abscess?
This condition generally takes a few weeks to develop as the abscess grows gradually in size, enough to start causing symptoms. In general, patients are sick. They will be running a fever, usually high grade. There is constant pain over the region of the liver, which may get relieved temporarily by pain medications. Patients develop nausea and vomiting, which leads to dehydration, electrolyte imbalances and loss of nutrition.
Symptoms also depend on the severity and COMPLICATIONS from it. . The infection may spread into the bloodstream causing shock. If the abscess bursts into the lungs it may cause breathing difficulty and pneumonia. It is not uncommon for the abscess to burst into the abdomen, this is a serious condition as well because the infection spreads into the abdomen which makes the patient even sicker.
Tests for Confirmation and Diagnosis Liver Abscess?
Ultrasound is the most common, easily available test. It is confirmatory in the majority of the conditions and hence may not require any further imaging.
In cases where the diagnosis is not clear or complications have occurred, further imaging may be required. Chest X-Ray and CT scan of the Chest is done if the abscess starts involving the chest or the lungs.
CT scan of the abdomen may also be required in case of severe conditions like rupture into the abdomen.
Blood tests like CBC, Liver function test, kidney functions, prothrombin time, and blood sugar are baseline investigations that are done for all such patients and may have to be repeated during the course of treatment
Treatment of Liver Abscess?
The mainstay of the treatment is draining out of the liver abscess. This does not require surgery. It is conducted by placing a tube into the liver abscess under ultrasound guidance. The tube can be left in the abscess cavity for a number of days till the abscess is completely drained.
Chest tube placement may be required for draining the abscess if it involves the chest or the lungs.
In case of an abscess bursting into the abdomen, the patient will require surgery. It can be open surgery or laparoscopic depending upon the patient's condition.
The medical aspect includes IV antibiotics, IV fluids, pain medication, and oxygen requirements to start with.
If the liver abscess is ignored for a longer time and complications such as those mentioned above occur, then the patient may become sick enough to require close monitoring and ICU care.
For any further questions, you can contact us or write to us:
Dr. Siddharth Jain
MBBS, MS, ASTS Fellow (USA)
+91 9810087117, +91 11 42233518
Email: jainhospitalmultispeciality@gmail.com
Jain Multispeciality Hospital,
Shalimar Bagh, Delhi
Max Hospital,
Shalimar Bagh, Delhi
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