Amebic liver abscess

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Liver cell death

Hepatic amebiasis; Extraintestinal amebiasis; Abscess - amebic liver

Antimicrobial therapy with 750 mg of metronidazole (Flagyl) taken 3 times a day for 10 days is the usual treatment for liver abscess. 

In rare cases, the abscess may need to be drained to help relieve some of the abdominal pain associated with the abscess.

Medication such as paromomycin must also be taken to eliminate intestinal amebiasis to prevent recurrence of the disease.

Without treatment, the abscess may rupture and spread into other organs, and death may occur as a result. With treatment, the chance of complete cure or having only minor problems is high, at least 80 - 90%.

The abscess may rupture into the abdominal cavity, the lining of the lungs, the lungs, or the sac around the heart. The infection can also spread to the brain.

Call your health care provider if symptoms develop after travel to an area where the disease is known to occur.

Review Date: 06/17/2005
Reviewed By: Rocio Hurtado, M.D., Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.