Clinical manifestations of liver abscess

Written by Zhang Wei Wei
Integrative Medicine
Updated on September 28, 2024
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Clinical manifestations of liver abscess include irregular, purulent fever, especially noticeable in bacterial liver abscesses. The fever is irregular and typically high, preceded by chills, followed by persistent pain in the liver area, which worsens with deep breaths or movement. Depending on the location of the abscess, it can lead to corresponding respiratory and abdominal symptoms, often with a history of diarrhea. If the abscess ruptures, it can evolve into purulent peritonitis with pyothorax. Special signs include liver enlargement, and in the intercostal space corresponding to the abscess, there's localized edema and clear tenderness. Some patients may exhibit jaundice. If the abscess breaks into the chest cavity, lung abscesses can occur, or if it perforates into the abdominal cavity, peritonitis may develop.

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Written by Zhang Wei Wei
Integrative Medicine
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What is good to eat for a liver abscess?

You should eat a diet that is easy to digest, high in vitamins, low in fat, and high in calories. Avoid fatty, greasy, spicy, and stimulating foods. So, what types of food can we choose? We can choose foods like millet and pig stomach, including beans, because beans are high in protein, calcium, iron, and vitamin B. You can also eat seafood such as hairtail and yellow croaker, which can enhance immunity, repair damaged tissue cells, and strengthen the body's resistance to prevent viral infections. Additionally, you can eat fruits that clear heat and detoxify, relieve irritability, and quench thirst, such as dragon fruit, pears, apples, etc. You can also consume foods that are rich in potassium.

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Will ferritin be high in hepatic abscess?

Will ferritin levels rise in cases of liver abscess? First, we need to understand the significance of ferritin testing. I can also tell you that ferritin does not necessarily increase during a liver abscess. The main form of iron in the body is present as serum ferritin. Clinically, its relationship with the aforementioned diseases is something we can discuss. The first one is related to iron-deficiency anemia. Generally, early stages of iron deficiency do not directly cause significant anemia, but they will lead to a reduction in iron stores. There are many methods for determining serum iron content in clinical laboratories, but none are as sensitive and reliable as serum ferritin. The second point is its relationship with tumors. Ferritin acts as a soluble tissue protein that stores iron in the body. It consists of a protein shell and an iron core, with the iron core having a strong capacity to bind and store iron, maintaining the supply of iron and the relative stability of hemoglobin. The liver is the site of synthesis of serum ferritin and also the organ that clears it. Normally, only a small amount is found in the serum, so during acute or chronic liver damage, or liver cancer, a noticeable increase occurs. Therefore, when liver abscesses affect liver function or cause destruction of liver cells, it can also lead to increased ferritin levels. However, in the early stages of a liver abscess, if treatment is proactive, ferritin levels might not increase.

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Written by Zhang Wei Wei
Integrative Medicine
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Can a liver abscess cause ascites?

Can liver abscess cause ascites? Some liver abscesses can cause ascites. Firstly, it must be understood why ascites occur. It is because the patient has poor resistance, internal infections, and is prone to worsened infections. A liver abscess involves significant energy consumption due to prolonged fever and intermittent fevers, which can reduce the liver’s capacity to synthesize albumin, leading to a decrease in colloid osmotic pressure within the blood vessels. This is accompanied by the formation of fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity. Therefore, when a patient with a liver abscess develops ascites, there is no need to be overly anxious or nervous. Treatment can involve vigorous anti-infection measures, supplementation with albumin, and other supportive treatments to improve the symptoms and alleviate the patient's ascites, facilitating a quicker recovery.

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Written by Zhang Wei Wei
Integrative Medicine
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Is a liver abscess serious? How is it treated?

If acute abdomen and peritonitis caused by liver abscesses, rupture, hemorrhage, or pyothorax, etc., liver abscesses are relatively severe. In these cases, the first steps should be the use of adequate antibiotics for a sufficient course, along with systemic supportive therapy, then controlling the inflammation and promoting the absorption of the inflammation. For conditions like rupture of liver abscesses or severe damage to the liver lobes that results in loss of normal function, surgical removal may also be considered. Additionally, for large liver abscesses that have perforated, causing peritonitis, pyothorax, or cholangiogenic liver abscess, while using systemic antibiotics, actively incising and draining the abscess should be considered. (Please use medications and treatment under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Zhang Wei Wei
Integrative Medicine
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Should one abstain from certain foods if they have a liver abscess?

Dietary restrictions are necessary for liver abscesses, which are purulent liver diseases caused by various microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or amoebae. If not treated promptly, the mortality rate can reach 10% to 30%. What should one pay attention to in their diet? First, absolutely no alcohol consumption during the onset of the disease, as it increases the burden on the liver and delays the healing of the liver abscess. Second, spicy, stimulating, greasy, and fried foods must be avoided as they can aggravate the liver abscess. Third, pickled vegetables and certain foods considered "heaty" by traditional Chinese medicine should also be avoided, such as beef, lamb, dog meat, longan, and lychee. It is recommended to consume a light diet and eat vegetables and fruits that can clear heat and detoxify.