Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Background: Hippocrates, between 460 and 377 B.C., documented the presence of liver abscess. A liver abscess is defined as the accumulation of pus within the liver tissue, typically caused by bacterial, fungal, parasitic, or mixed infections.To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with liver abscess, explore the factors contributing to its occurrence, analyze diverse treatment approaches, and assess the morbidity, mortality, and overall prognosis linked to this condition. Methods: A prospective observational study was carried out over a span of two years within the Department of General Surgery. The study encompassed 100 cases of liver abscess, serving as the sample size. Results: Out of the 100 patients studied, the age distribution revealed that the highest percentage, 36%, fell within the 21-30 years age group, with a predominant male representation of 74%. A significant majority of patients, 68%, presented with symptoms of fever accompanied by chills. Alcoholic consumption was identified as a risk factor in 68% of the cases, and amoebic liver abscess was the more prevalent type. Furthermore, it was observed that the right lobe of the liver was affected more frequently than the left lobe. The most commonly employed treatment approach was a combination of percutaneous aspiration and antibiotic therapy, which accounted for 36% of cases. Conclusion: Liver abscess is notably more prevalent in young males within the age group of 21-30 years. The primary symptom observed is fever accompanied by chills, affecting the majority of cases. Chronic alcohol consumption is a clear-cut risk factor for developing this condition. In patients with a single abscess larger than 5 cm, particularly in superficial segments of the liver, the preferred treatment approach is percutaneous needle aspiration in combination with antibiotics.