Hid Shah S Zahid, Baqai F U, Waqar Ahmed, Abdul Ghani.
Amoebic liver abscess and gender differences.
Baqai J Health Sci Jan ;15(1):9-13.

The study was undertaken to elucidate the clinical profile and to find out the of results of Ultrasound guided aspiration of liver abscess in the Department of General Surgery, Baqai Medical University Hospital Nazimabad Karachi, from April 2007 to April 2012. 60 cases were included in the study, which were diagnosed to have amoebic liver abscess with 96.5% male and 3.5% female patients. The diagnosis was based on persistent fever, pain in right upper abdomen with pointing tenderness over liver, serodiagnosis, ultrasound evidence of liver abscess and CT scan in selected cases. Those having abscess larger than 5 cm subjected to percutaneous transhepatic ultrasound guided aspiration of liver abscess and the abscess size and resolution was monitored. Parental antibiotic cover for 4 to 6 weeks was provided to all patients. Fever was the most frequent symptom as diagnosed in 57 (94%) patients, followed by pain in right upper abdomen in 54 (90%) patients and diarrhea in 6 (10%) patients, anorexia and weight loss in 18 (30%) patients. 11 (18.3%) patients had hepatomegaly, 8 (13.5%) showed deranged LFTs and 9 (15%) patients had right sided pleural effusion. Out of total cases, 54 (90%) patients had right lobe abscess, 2 (3.3%) patients had left lobe abscess and three (5%) patients had multiloculated right lobe abscess. One (1.6%) patient had multiple abscess in both lobes of liver. Serology test for Entamoeba histolytica was positive in all patients Ultrasound guided needle aspiration employed in 38 (63.5%) patients and 22 (36.5%) patients were managed conservatively. In 8 (13.3%) patient’s second attempt of aspiration employed. In one (1.5%) patient right chest drain was passed. Patient with amoebic liver abscess with fever and pain in right upper abdomen were noted. Our study showed amoebic liver abscess had seven times higher incidence in male than in female.

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