– What is a liver abscess?
– The symptoms of liver abscesses and the ways out.
The liver is a large organ and an important organ in the body that stores and metabolizes nutrients. Also, the liver destroys harmful toxins that produce bile in the body.
The liver is vital to the body as it is the organ responsible for thousands of biochemical reactions.
A liver abscess is also known as a hepatic abscess, some people (medical practitioners also refer to it as a pyogenic liver abscess (PLA).
It refers to the accumulation of pus within the liver as a result of an infection. This infection is caused by bacteria, amebic parasites (protozoa), fungi and helminths (parasitic worms).
A pus is a whitish-yellowish substance that composes of dead white blood cells and dead pyogenic bacteria. A pus is usually at the regions of the bacterial infection.
A single abscess can occur and we can also have multiple ( many ) abscesses.
Causes and risk factors of abscesses include the following;
1. A bacteria infection.
2. Also, fungi and protozoan infection can cause it.
3. A penetrating injury through the abdominal wall.
4. Septicemia or a blood infection is another cause.
5. Pancreatic cancer, as well as colon cancer, serve as risk factors.
6. An infection in the bile duct.
7. Inflammatory bowel disease, etc.
Symptoms or signs of liver abscesses include the following;
- Abdominal discomfort and pain ( the pain might be mild or severe depending on the stage of level of the infection) are a sign.
- Nausea and vomiting can also occur.
- Fever.
- Tenderness of the liver area will also occur.
- Another symptom is malaise.
It is very dangerous not to treat liver abscesses if left without treatment, it can cause other complications that may be fatal to the health.
Antibiotics are usually effective in treating abscesses. At times, its treatment might also require medical surgery, this involves drainage of the abscess.
Doctors will tell which method will be best for the treatment of the abscesses.