Abstract
Background: Liver abscess is a common problem among children. The purpose of this study is to describe the etiology, different management strategies and outcome of children with liver abscess in Children’s Hospital Lahore. Patients and Methods: This study included 38 children with liver abscess seen during two-year period, from September 2004 to September 2006 at the Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Lahore. Diagnosis was made on history, examination and investigations. Ultrasound and CT scan were the main diagnostic tools. Results: Out of 38 patients, 33 children underwent aspiration and remaining 5 were managed conservatively. Eight aspirates yielded positive culture for various organisms. Three patients were positive for E.Coli, 2 for Staph Aureus, and 1 each case of Klebsiella and Pseudomonas. One patient had multiple micro-abscesses and was also positive for typhidot IgM. Another patient was positive for acid fast mycobacterium tuberculosis. All patients recovered from their abscesses. There was no mortality reported. Conclusions: In our pediatric population, liver abscess are mostly caused by pyogenic organisms. Amebic etiology was not proven in any case. Majority of liver abscesses can be satisfactorily treated by aspiration and /or percutaneous image guided drainage with satisfactory outcome. Key Words: Liver abscess, children.
Highlights
One patient had multiple micro-abscesses and was positive for typhidot IgM. Another patient was positive for acid fast mycobacterium tuberculosis
In our pediatric population, liver abscess are mostly caused by pyogenic organisms
Majority of liver abscesses can be satisfactorily treated by aspiration and /or percutaneous image guided drainage with satisfactory outcome
Summary
Hepatic abscess is not an uncommon problem in children living in poor hygienic conditions in third world countries. The two most common varieties of liver abscess are pyogenic and amebic.[2] Children presenting with liver abscess have variable clinical features like fever, right upper quadrant pain or the features of associated disease and complications.[3,4] Ultrasound is the main diagnostic tool and in some cases CT scan may be helpful.[5,6] Treatment of patients is both medical and drainage of abscess, depending upon the size and location of liver abscess. Liver abscess is a common problem among children. The purpose of this study is to describe the etiology, different management strategies and outcome of children with liver abscess in Children’s Hospital Lahore
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have