Liver abscess: symptoms, causes, to treatment & bull; hello healthy

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Definition

What is a liver abscess?

Abscess in the liver (liver / liver) is a pocket of pus that occurs in the liver as a result of an injury that can develop into an infection. Pus is a fluid made up of white blood cells and dead cells that form when the body fights infection.

Instead of draining from the site of infection, the pus that appears collects in a pocket in the liver. This condition is usually accompanied by swelling and inflammation of the surrounding area and causes pain and swelling in the abdomen.

Pus abscess is generally categorized into two, namely pyogenic or amoebic. However, a small proportion of liver disease is caused by parasites and fungi. If not treated immediately, this condition called liver abscess can be fatal.

How common is this condition?

A liver abscess can happen to anyone, regardless of age and sex. You can overcome this liver dysfunction by reducing risk factors. Consult a doctor for more information.

Signs and symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of a liver abscess?

Symptoms of a liver abscess may appear similar to those of other diseases. However, there are some signs and symptoms that most often appear when a person experiences this condition, such as:

• fever,
• body shivering and sweating,
• nausea or vomiting,
• diarrhea, and
• upper stomach pain.

In rare cases, you may feel tightness in the chest, decreased appetite, and yellowing of the skin and eyes.

Some of the symptoms or other features may not be listed above. If you are worried, consult a doctor immediately.

When to see a doctor for this condition?

Immediately consult a doctor if you experience one or more of the symptoms mentioned above, especially when a high fever does not go away.

Keep in mind that everyone has different conditions. Discuss with your doctor to get a diagnosis and treatment that suits your condition.

Causes and risk factors

What causes liver abscess?

Liver abscesses generally occur due to infection from germs, such as bacteria, parasites, or fungi. The type of pathogen that attacks your liver will determine the type of abscess you have, such as:

• bacteria, that is Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae (pyogenic abscess),
• amoeba, that is Entamoeba histolytica (amoebic abscess), and
• mushrooms causes of liver abscess, that is Candida sp (fungal liver abscess).

Inflammatory problems, such as appendicitis, diverticulitis, and cholecystitis also often cause amoebic abscesses and produce pus. This condition also often occurs in environments with poor sanitary conditions.

In addition, infection can also occur when:

• spread to the liver from the gallbladder, bile duct, or appendix,
• flows into the bloodstream to the liver from other organs, and
• post-surgery or injury to the liver.

What increases the risk of developing this condition?

Bacterial liver abscess is usually the most common type of abscess. Generally, this condition is more prone to occur in people with health problems such as:

• autoimmune disorders,
• HIV / AIDS,
• diabetes,
• kidney failure,
• elderly,
• patients undergoing chemotherapy,
• liver infection or problems with hepatic function, and
• colitis.

In addition, not maintaining cleanliness is also more susceptible to these liver problems, including unclean food. In fact, consumption of raw or undercooked food is also at risk of developing a liver abscess.

Complications

Most cases show that a liver abscess can be treated easily if treated immediately. If left untreated, a liver abscess can cause various complications, including:

• abscess rupture,
• sepsis, and
• peritonitis.

Diagnosis and treatment

How to diagnose this condition?

After a physical examination and medical history, your doctor may ask you to undergo certain tests to determine the cause of the liver abscess, such as:

• ultrasound,
• CT scan,
• MRI of the abdomen,
• blood tests to look for signs of inflammation, and
• liver biopsy if treatment with antibiotics is ineffective.

Generally, a liver abscess can appear as a lump that contains gas and fluid when viewed on a CT scan.

What are the ways to treat a liver abscess?

Treatment of a liver abscess will usually depend on the type of abscess you are experiencing. In most cases, how to treat a liver abscess will start at the hospital and continue at home, including:

• taking antibiotics, either intravenously (intravenously) or orally,
• draining the pus with a needle or catheter through the skin, and
• undergo abscess surgery when it is very severe.

Home remedies

Normally, most people who have a liver abscess will get better within 2 weeks with antibiotics and drain the pus.

Meanwhile, a patient with an amoebic abscess may experience a mild fever for 4 - 5 days.

To keep pathogenic infections from getting worse, you can adopt healthy routines, including:

• take antibiotics as directed,
• routinely see a doctor,
• wash hands before eating, and
• call your doctor if you have stomach pain, fever, or diarrhea.

If you have further questions, please contact your doctor to get the right solution.