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Amebic liver abscess - Symptom

Alternative Names

Hepatic amebiasis; Extraintestinal amebiasis; Abscess - amebic liver

Symptoms:

There are usually no symptoms of intestinal infection. If symptoms do occur, they may include:

  • Abdominal pain
    • Particularly in the right, upper part of the abdomen
    • Intense, continuous, or stabbing pain
  • Chills
  • Diarrhea (in only one-third of patients)
  • Fever
  • General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise)
  • Jaundice
  • Joint pain
  • Loss of appetite
  • Sweating
  • Weight loss

Signs and tests:

Tests that may be done include:

  • Reviewed last on: 6/9/2011
  • David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Donnelly JP, Blijlevens NMA, DePauw BE. Entamoeba species including amebiasis. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Disease. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2009:chap 273.

Neuschwander-Tetri BA. Bacterial, parasitic, fungal, and granulomatous liver disease. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 155.

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