Principles of medical treatment for liver abscess

Written by Zhang Wei Wei
Integrative Medicine
Updated on September 27, 2024
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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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Clinical manifestations of liver abscess

Clinical manifestations of liver abscess include irregular, purulent fever, especially noticeable in bacterial liver abscesses. The fever is irregular and typically high, preceded by chills, followed by persistent pain in the liver area, which worsens with deep breaths or movement. Depending on the location of the abscess, it can lead to corresponding respiratory and abdominal symptoms, often with a history of diarrhea. If the abscess ruptures, it can evolve into purulent peritonitis with pyothorax. Special signs include liver enlargement, and in the intercostal space corresponding to the abscess, there's localized edema and clear tenderness. Some patients may exhibit jaundice. If the abscess breaks into the chest cavity, lung abscesses can occur, or if it perforates into the abdominal cavity, peritonitis may develop.

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Written by Zhang Wei Wei
Integrative Medicine
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Will ferritin be high in hepatic abscess?

Will ferritin levels rise in cases of liver abscess? First, we need to understand the significance of ferritin testing. I can also tell you that ferritin does not necessarily increase during a liver abscess. The main form of iron in the body is present as serum ferritin. Clinically, its relationship with the aforementioned diseases is something we can discuss. The first one is related to iron-deficiency anemia. Generally, early stages of iron deficiency do not directly cause significant anemia, but they will lead to a reduction in iron stores. There are many methods for determining serum iron content in clinical laboratories, but none are as sensitive and reliable as serum ferritin. The second point is its relationship with tumors. Ferritin acts as a soluble tissue protein that stores iron in the body. It consists of a protein shell and an iron core, with the iron core having a strong capacity to bind and store iron, maintaining the supply of iron and the relative stability of hemoglobin. The liver is the site of synthesis of serum ferritin and also the organ that clears it. Normally, only a small amount is found in the serum, so during acute or chronic liver damage, or liver cancer, a noticeable increase occurs. Therefore, when liver abscesses affect liver function or cause destruction of liver cells, it can also lead to increased ferritin levels. However, in the early stages of a liver abscess, if treatment is proactive, ferritin levels might not increase.

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Written by Zhang Wei Wei
Integrative Medicine
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Does liver abscess have a connection with drinking alcohol?

Patients with liver abscesses are prohibited from drinking alcohol, because the main component of alcoholic beverages is ethanol, which needs to be metabolized by the liver and directly damages it. Excessive drinking can exacerbate the burden on the liver, worsening the condition. Therefore, patients with liver abscesses must absolutely avoid alcohol. If a patient insists on drinking, they should only do so in moderation three months after the abscess has healed. However, it is generally advised not to drink at all. It is beneficial for the liver if patients consume fresh vegetables and fruits and maintain a light diet, avoiding greasy and rich foods. This diet can also prevent the adhesion and aggregation of platelets, reduce the decline in white blood cells, and promote blood circulation and dispel stasis.

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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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Wei Wei
Integrative Medicine
43sec home-news-image

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.