A Study of Incidence, Clinical Feature, and Management of Liver Abscess in Pediatric Patients in a Tertiary Health Center in Gujarat

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the clinical profile of liver abscess (LA) in children. Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study of 50 children with LA who were referred over a period of 4 years was included in this study. Results: Mean age was 6 ± 1 years. Fever and pain in the abdomen (70%), tender liver (62%) were the most common presenting clinical features. Leukocytosis (84%) and hyperbilirubinemia (40%) were the most common laboratory features. Pus culture grew organisms in only 20%. Most of the abscesses were solitary (72%) with a predilection to the right lobe (80%) of the liver. No patient died, and drainage of the abscess was the most common mode of treatment along with intravenous antibiotics. Multiple abscesses were more commonly found in males as compared to females. However, females had the right lobe being most involved. Tender hepatomegaly was more commonly seen with left lobe abscess. Conclusion: Patients with LA commonly present with fever, abdominal pain, and tender hepatomegaly. Males have multiple abscesses more commonly with both lobe involvement, while females tend to present with solitary lesions with a prediction to the right lobe.