Liver Abscess
A liver abscess is an infected area inside the liver that contains a collection of pus. The liver is a large organ in the upper right-hand side of the abdomen. It is involved in many important functions, including storing energy, producing fluids that the body needs, and removing harmful substances from the bloodstream.
Liver abscesses often cause abdominal pain, fever, and other symptoms. A liver abscess can be dangerous if not treated.
CAUSES
This condition may be caused by a bacterial infection or infection with a parasite called an amoeba (Entamoeba histolytica). In rare cases, it can also be caused by infection with a fungus called Candida.
Many liver abscesses occur when infections spread to the liver from other parts of the abdomen, such as the appendix (appendicitis), the
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large intestine (diverticulitis), or the gallbladder (cholecystitis). Infections can also spread to the liver from other parts of the body through the bloodstream. Sometimes, the liver can become infected after abdominal surgery or a penetrating injury to the abdomen. SYMPTOMS Symptoms of this condition often come on slowly over many days or a few weeks. The most common symptoms are fever and pain in the upper right part of the abdomen. Other symptoms include: • Pain that goes up into the right shoulder. • A general ill feeling (malaise). • Loss of appetite. • Weight loss. • Chills. • Throwing up (vomiting) or feeling sick to your stomach (nauseous). • Diarrhea. DIAGNOSIS This condition may be diagnosed with: • A physical exam and medical history. • Blood tests to check for infections. • Imaging tests, such as CT scans or ultrasounds. This is often the best way to find an abscess. • Needle aspiration. In this procedure, a long needle is put through the skin and into the liver. A sample of pus is drained out through the needle. The sample is studied under a microscope, and a culture test is performed. TREATMENT Treatment for this condition depends on the cause of the infection.
• If the abscess was caused by bacteria, treatment usually involves draining the pus and taking antibiotic medicines. At first, you may need to receive antibiotics given directly into a vein through an IV tube. For a severe infection, you may need to be hospitalized. The pus may be drained from the abscess through needle aspiration or by making an incision in the abscess.
• If the abscess was caused by an amoeba or fungus, drainage of the abscess is usually not needed. Medicines are normally used to treat these infections.
HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS
• Take medicines only as directed by your health care provider.
• If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, finish all of it even if you start to feel better.
• Rest as much as possible and get plenty of sleep.
• Avoid strenuous activity. Return to your normal activities as directed by your health care provider.
• Do not lift anything that is heavier than 10 lb (4.5 kg).
• Do not drink alcohol until your health care provider approves.
• Keep all follow-up visits as directed by your health care provider. This is
important. SEEK MEDICAL CARE IF: • You have pain in your abdomen. • You do not feel like eating. • You feel nauseous. • You vomit. • You have diarrhea. • You have a fever. • You have chills or sweats. SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL CARE IF: • Your abdominal pain suddenly gets worse. • Your skin or eyes look yellow. • You feel like sleeping all the time. • You develop confusion.
Education of the patient will begin. Depending on the size of the abscess and how extensive the procedure was the patient may need a relative or friend to drive them back home. Not only would the patient need a ride back home, they may need to be watched for 24 hours. As part of pain management pain medication may be given to the patient to decrease pain. Antibiotics may be given to fight or prevent infection caused by the bacteria. The patient will also need to list all medications that they are taking so there will not be any contraindications with the medications that the patient is given. Advise the patient that more than one follow-up appointment will be necessary in order to properly treat the wound. Before the end of the appointment, the medical assistant should give the patient written instructions along with an emergency number and the number to the practice incase the patient has any questions or concerns. Advise the patient to return to the practice if they experience any fever, chills, or the abscess returns. If red streaks appear around the wound tell the patient to call the emergency department immediately. After the the procedure and patient education has been completed, make sure all the step of the procedure has been documented in the patient’s record and all follow-up procedures have been
Liver is a vital organ and performs several roles; produce proteins that help the blood to clot and removing body wastes; regulates the supply of substances such as glucose throughout the body (Potter et al., 2012). To be able to perform these functions the liver cells must function normally. Alcohol abuse is usually connected to alcoholic liver disease that permanently damaged the liver due to excessive drinking and continued excessive drinking can shorten lifespan. If liver cirrhosis has not yet occurred, the liver can heal once the patient stop drinking alcohol (ABS, 2010).
...so discuss making a exercise plan that will work for the patient, and will not cause him/her any pain. If all of the correct measures are taken, and the patient is taking care of themselves, they can prevent more serious complications from occurring. They must know that they are serious complications from one not taking care of themselves, or living a unhealthy life style. It does involve a lifelong commitment to change. Medication will help, but one must also be willing to change.
Candidiasis, also called thrush or moniliasis, is a yeast infection. Candida albicans is an organism that normally makes a quiet home for itself on your skin and doesn't bother anyone. We all carry this organism on our skin, in our mouth, in our gastrointestinal tract (gut), and, in the case of women, in the vagina.
You look in the mirror and see that your skin and eyes seem a yellowish color, your legs and ankles are swollen, you have abdominal pain and swelling, your skin is also itchy, you have dark urine, and notice that your stool is a pale color. What do these symptoms mean? These are symptoms of damage to the liver. There are many ways to damage your liver like the use of alcohol, but a way you may not be aware of is the use of medication. Some medications when used repeatedly can cause liver damage, such as acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol.
The sonographic appearance varies depending on of the Hepatitis is acute or chronic. In acute hepatitis you will see a normal texture or portal veins will be more prominent. The liver appears hypoechoic. Attenuation might be present in acute Hepatitis. Gallbladder walls are thickened and hepatosplenomegaly. In chronic Hepatitis the parenchyma will appear coarsed with decreased brightness of the portal triad. Attentuaion is not as great in chronic Hepatitis. Fibrosis may occur with soft shadowing. The size of the liver is decreased and appears hyperechoic.
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