Why is there a low fever with a liver abscess?

Written by Zhang Wei Wei
Integrative Medicine
Updated on September 27, 2024
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Why do patients with liver abscesses continuously have a low fever? This is because a liver abscess is a purulent liver condition caused by various microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or amoebas, indicating severe inflammation due to the presence of pus in the liver, resulting in a fever. But why is it a low fever? The reason may be attributed to the fact that it is inherently a bacterial infection. Treatment requires prolonged use of high-dose, full-course antibiotics. During this process, some bacteria might not be completely eradicated, or some residual bacteria continue to linger in the liver, thereby easily causing fever. Fever is a manifestation of the body's self-protection, so there is no need for excessive worry or anxiety. With proper full-course treatment, the disease can be cured. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Zhang Wei Wei
Integrative Medicine
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Can I drink milk with a liver abscess?

Patients with liver abscess can drink milk if they are not allergic to it. The main symptoms of a liver abscess are abdominal pain and irregular high fever, and it is considered a consumptive disease. For such diseases, we must strengthen nutritional support treatment and adopt a digestible, high-protein diet to achieve the purpose of rapid improvement and cure of the disease. Milk is a food with relatively high protein content and is also easy to digest. If there is no milk allergy, patients with liver abscess can drink an appropriate amount of milk. About 250ml per day is beneficial for the rapid recovery of the liver abscess and for improving the body's immunity.

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Integrative Medicine
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Treatment of liver abscess

The treatment of liver abscesses is divided into medical and surgical treatment. Medical treatment mainly involves antibiotic therapy. For bacterial liver abscesses, especially during the acute phase when the inflammation is localized and an abscess has not yet formed, or there are multiple small abscesses, aggressive conservative medical treatment should be given. This involves the use of high doses of antibiotics and general supportive therapy to control the absorption of inflammation. The second method is antibiotics combined with percutaneous puncture drainage. For a single, larger liver abscess, aspiration of pus can be performed under ultrasound guidance. After aspirating as much pus as possible, antibiotics can be injected into the abscess cavity, followed by repeated punctures over several days, or a tube can be placed to drain the pus. When the abscess shrinks and the fluid output decreases, the tube can be removed. The third method is antibiotics combined with surgical drainage. For larger liver abscesses that have a potential to rupture and cause complications such as acute peritonitis and pyothorax, surgical incision and drainage should be performed urgently, alongside the use of systemic antibiotics. The fourth approach is antibiotics combined with surgical resection. For chronic liver abscesses, or those whose abscess walls do not collapse after drainage, leaving a dead space, or with sinus tracts that continually discharge pus without healing and where liver lobe destruction is severe with loss of normal functions, hepatic lobectomy can be performed.

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Written by Zhang Wei Wei
Integrative Medicine
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Can people with liver abscess eat chicken?

In principle, patients with liver abscess who are not allergic can consume some chicken soup, but it should be low in oil and salt, and lightly flavored. We can remove the chicken skin and then stew it lightly. Patients can drink small amounts of chicken soup multiple times to supplement their normal nutrition and enhance their immunity. Since a liver abscess is a consumptive disease, patients repeatedly experience high fevers, low fevers, sweating, and profuse sweating. They need foods that are high in protein and light to boost their immunity and promote a faster recovery from the disease.

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Written by Zhang Wei Wei
Integrative Medicine
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Principles of medical treatment for liver abscess

The principle is early diagnosis and early treatment, including the management of the primary disease, and then avoiding the occurrence of complications. Non-surgical treatment requires the use of effective and sufficient amounts of antibacterial drugs, proactive supportive care, and enhancement of the body's resistance. For a single larger abscess, it can be punctured and drained under ultrasound guidance, or continuously flushed and drained through percutaneous catheter placement, and treated with injection of antibiotics. However, the antibiotic treatment for liver abscess requires a sufficient amount and full course of symptomatic supportive care to suppress the spread of inflammation and facilitate rapid absorption of inflammation. At the same time, we can adopt some traditional Chinese medicine methods and treatment approaches to reduce swelling and drain pus, which synergistically enhance the treatment effect.

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Written by Zhang Wei Wei
Integrative Medicine
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Should one abstain from certain foods if they have a liver abscess?

Dietary restrictions are necessary for liver abscesses, which are purulent liver diseases caused by various microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or amoebae. If not treated promptly, the mortality rate can reach 10% to 30%. What should one pay attention to in their diet? First, absolutely no alcohol consumption during the onset of the disease, as it increases the burden on the liver and delays the healing of the liver abscess. Second, spicy, stimulating, greasy, and fried foods must be avoided as they can aggravate the liver abscess. Third, pickled vegetables and certain foods considered "heaty" by traditional Chinese medicine should also be avoided, such as beef, lamb, dog meat, longan, and lychee. It is recommended to consume a light diet and eat vegetables and fruits that can clear heat and detoxify.