title: Clinical profile of multiple amoebic liver abscesses.
abstract: Of 70 consecutive patients with amoebic liver abscess admitted over a 3 year period, 15 (21.4%) had multiple abscesses. This condition, like solitary abscess, was a disease of the 2nd to 5th decade with a male preponderance. Multiple abscesses were more frequently associated with fever, jaundice, upper abdominal pain, pneumonitis and tender hepatomegaly. The left lobe of the liver was always enlarged in patients with multiple abscesses and 86% of patients required drainage of an abscess cavity. The presence of more severe clinical course, jaundice and left lobe hepatomegaly should raise the suspicion of multiple abscesses. After confirmation of the diagnosis by imaging technique, the abscess cavity should be aspirated for quick relief and cure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Acharya
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dasarathy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008101:Liver Abscess, Amebic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D008795:Metronidazole