title: Amebic liver abscesses among neonates can mimic bacterial sepsis.
abstract: Amebic liver abscesses are unusual among neonates. Three (3.6%) of 83 children who presented to a university hospital with amebic liver abscesses in a 17-year period were neonates (<28 days of age). Patients presented with nonspecific clinical and laboratory findings mimicking fulminant neonatal sepsis. Diagnosis was delayed and was based on the presence of a hypoechoic lesion in the liver, antibodies against Entamoeba histolytica and microbiologic examination of pus. In addition to parenteral metronidazole treatment and early ultrasound-guided aspiration of the abscess, intensive care is vital for the treatment of neonates with amebic liver abscesses.
authors.affiliation: Section of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. zafar.nazir@aku.edu
authors.forename: Zafar
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nazir
authors.forename: Saqib Hamid
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Qazi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008101:Liver Abscess, Amebic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents