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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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How To Prevent Amoebic Liver Abscess?

Hello doctor, my 22 year old cousin brother is admitted with amoebic liver abscess in hospital. What are the causes of this abscess? What is the prognosis and treatment for the same? How to prevent it?
posted on Wed, 15 Jul 2009
Twitter Sat, 25 Jul 2009 Answered on
Twitter Thu, 20 Oct 2011 Last reviewed on
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Liver abscesses are caused by bacterial, parasitic, or fungal organisms. Pyogenic abscesses are the most common but worldwide, amoebae are the commonest cause. Prognosis of the amoebic liver abscess depends on early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics improves outcome but mortality rates are still 1-3%.Factors that affect prognosis include presence of shock or disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), immunodeficiency, diabetes, associated malignancy, ineffective surgical drainage. Amoebic liver abscess is treated with metronidazole. 95% of patients with amoebic liver abscess recover with this alone. Most patients show a response to treatment within 72-96 hours. Diloxanide furoate is prescribed for 10 days to eliminate intestinal amoebae after the abscess has been successfully treated. Treatment of asymptomatic cyst carriers and good sanitation and water facilities are fundamental in the prevention of amoebic liver abscess. Vaccines are not available.
Orthopaedic Surgeon,  Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal's  Response
Hello.
Thanks for writing to us.
Amoebic liver abscess occurs due to parasitic infection mostly transmitted to liver through improper treatment of the intestinal amoebiasis. If treated with adequate antibiotics, it is completely curable with full restoration of the liver functions. To prevent this, adequate antibiotic treatment is needed for any intestinal infection.
I hope this information has been both informative and helpful for you.
Regards,
Dr. Praveen Tayal
drtayal72@gmail.com

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General & Family Physician,  Dr. Pavan Kumar Gupta's  Response
Hello.Welcome.Amoebic liver abscess is usually a single mass in right lobe and contains ANCHOVY SAUCE pus.50% have no history of amoebic dysentry.Treatment is metronidazole 400 mg I/v for 10 days.Aspiration is done if no improvement within 72 hrs of starting metronidazole.Give diloxanide furoate 500 mg 8 hrly orally for 10 days, after metronidazole, for 10 days to destroy gut cysts.Good luck.
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How To Prevent Amoebic Liver Abscess?

Liver abscesses are caused by bacterial, parasitic, or fungal organisms. Pyogenic abscesses are the most common but worldwide, amoebae are the commonest cause. Prognosis of the amoebic liver abscess depends on early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics improves outcome but mortality rates are still 1-3%.Factors that affect prognosis include presence of shock or disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), immunodeficiency, diabetes, associated malignancy, ineffective surgical drainage. Amoebic liver abscess is treated with metronidazole. 95% of patients with amoebic liver abscess recover with this alone. Most patients show a response to treatment within 72-96 hours. Diloxanide furoate is prescribed for 10 days to eliminate intestinal amoebae after the abscess has been successfully treated. Treatment of asymptomatic cyst carriers and good sanitation and water facilities are fundamental in the prevention of amoebic liver abscess. Vaccines are not available.