Liver Abscess - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Liver abscesses are caused by bacterial, parasitic, or fungal infection. Pyogenic abscesses account for three quarters of hepatic abscess in developed countries. Necrotic tissue then walls off the cavity from the rest of the liver. The male-to-female ratio is approximately 2:1 in recent studies, and the problem occurs most commonly in the fourth to sixth decade of life. Solitary within the liver as a result of infection by bacteria, protozoa, or other agents. Liver abscess occurs equally in men and women, usually in those over age 50. Death occurs in 15% of affected patients despite treatment. Liver abscess is also called as Bacterial liver abscess.

Due to infection with the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica. Kupffer cells are usually very efficient at keeping the liver clear of infection but disease of the biliary tract with obstruction of bile flow facilitates around 60% of cases. Liver abscesses generally result from spread of infection from the digestive tract via the portal vein, from biliary disease or by direct extension from an adjacent infection. The liver is in the right side of your chest behind your ribs and below your right lung. The liver has several jobs. It makes bile which helps to digest (break down) the food you eat and turn it into energy. The liver also cleans foreign (for-un) things from the body, such as drugs, alcohol, and other chemicals.

Causes of Liver Abscess

Common causes and risk factor's of Keratitis include the following :

• Pregnancy.
• Steroid use.
• Cancer.
• Old age.
• Alcoholism.
• Recent travel to a tropical region

Symptoms of Liver Abscess

Some of the common sign and symptoms of the disease Leptospirosis are as follows:

• Fever.
• Dark urine.
• Malaise.
• Sweating.
• Vomiting
• Chills.
• Loss of appetite.
• Weight loss.
• Diarrhea.
• General discomfort
• Jaundice.
• Weakness
• Joint pain.

Treatment of Liver Abscess

Find effective treatment methods of treating Liver Abscess:

• The treatment usually consists of surgical or percutaneous (through the skin, with a needle) drainage of the abscess .
• Sometimes antibiotics alone can cure the infection.
• Percutaneous catheter drainage with antimicrobial therapy.
• Treatment should include drainage, either percutaneous or surgical.
• Antimicrobial therapy with 750 mg of metronidazole taken 3 times a day for 10 days is the usual treatment for liver abscess. 
• Medication such as paromomycin must also be taken to eliminate intestinal amebiasis to prevent recurrence of the disease.