title: Clinico-socio-demographic profile and predictors of poor outcome in children with liver abscess: a hospital-based study in northern India.
abstract: Liver abscess (LA) is a common health problem among children in tropical countries. We conducted a prospective, observational study at a tertiary-care medical college in order to examine the clinico-socio-demographic profile and assess a possible association between certain predictors of a poor outcome in children admitted with LA. Of a total of 53 children, only 24.4% were malnourished. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism observed. Amoebic LA was noted in 7.5%. Right-sided pleural effusion was the most common complication recorded (20.7%). The most successful treatment modality was therapeutic percutaneous aspiration with antimicrobials (90.5% success). An elevated alkaline phosphatase and open surgery were associated with a poor outcome (P = 0.04 in each case). The rate of hospital admissions of children with LA remains high and most are of pyogenic origin. Of the different treatment modalities, therapeutic aspiration along with antimicrobials achieved the best results. Raised alkaline phosphatase and open surgery were predictors of a poor outcome.
authors: Department of Paediatrics, Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, India.
authors: Smita
authors: S
authors: Ramachandran
authors: Kirtisudha
authors: K
authors: Mishra
authors: Subhasis Roy
authors: SR
authors: Choudhury
authors: Rahul
authors: R
authors: Saxena
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008100:Liver Abscess / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications; D013396:Suction
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents