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Hepatic
amebiasis
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Normal |
Abnormal |
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- This is an Abscess (walled area
of infection/pus) in the liver that is caused by the
organism Entamoeba histolytica. It is common in tropical and
subtropical areas (southeast Asia, Africa, India, Latin
America). In the U.S., it is most common in young Hispanic
adults. It is also seen in those with recent travels to
tropical areas, homosexuals, and among the inhabitants of
institutions for the mentally
ill.
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- Right upper abdominal pain
- Right sided chest pain worse on a
deep breath
- Diarrhea precedes
infection in 20% of patients
- Weight loss, malaise, and jaundice
may occur.
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- Travel to endemic areas (as above),
where the cysts of the parasite may be ingested by consuming
water or food contaminated by fecal matter.
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- Ill-appearance
- Fever
- Tender right upper abdomen
- Palpable liver (liver can be
felt) whereas the liver is not easily
felt
- Tenderness in chest wall of right chest
- Anemia
- Elevated white blood cell count
- Hemagglutination test
- If needle aspiration is done, culture is sent to
laboratory
- Chest X-Ray shows
elevated right diaphragm
- Ultrasound
- CT scan 20 days after successful
treatment to eradicate ameba cysts
- MRI
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- Metronidazole (Flagyl) orally
- Percutaneous needle drainage of the Abscess in severely
ill patients
- Iodoquinal is taken for ameba remaining in the intestines (treating the Abscess only would
not clear infection in the
intestines).
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- Amebic Abscess may rupture
and cause the infection to
spread.
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- Amebic infection is caused by the
ingestion of contaminated food or water. Therefore, use
careful sanitation, avoid unpeeled fruits and vegetables,
and use bottled water when traveling in areas known to have
amebiasis.
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