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Liver abscess (pyogenic and amoebic)

Abscessus hepatis · Jaterní absces (hnisavý a amébový)

What it is

A pus-filled cavity in the liver — from bowel bacteria through the portal vein or bile ducts (pyogenic, often older people with diabetes or biliary disease), or from Entamoeba histolytica after amoebic dysentery.

Symptoms & signs

  • Fever and sweats
  • pain under the right ribs
  • tender enlarged liver
  • nausea, weight loss
  • jaundice in some
  • right shoulder pain

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Fever with shivering, confusion or low blood pressure
  • call 112 / 911 now Sudden severe belly pain
  • see a doctor soon Fever with pain under the right ribs
  • see a doctor soon Yellow skin or eyes with fever

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Ultrasound or CT, blood cultures
  • Needle or catheter drainage plus antibiotics — pyogenic trials support
  • Metronidazole then a luminal drug (paromomycin) — amoebic; rarely needs drainage trials support
  • look for the source — gallstones, colon cancer, diverticulitis

Natural & lifestyle

  • Clean drinking water and food hygiene in endemic areas
  • good diabetes control

Emerging & experimental

  • Klebsiella hypervirulent strains — spread to eyes and brain, a growing problem in Asia

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Liver 'detox' products — no effect; some harm the liver not confirmed in trials
  • Garlic against amoebae — laboratory activity only anecdotal / traditional

ICD codes