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Pyogenic liver abscess - Symptom

Alternative Names

Liver abscess; Bacterial liver abscess

Symptoms:

Chalk-colored stool
Dark urine
Fever, chills
Loss of appetite
Nausea, vomiting
Pain in right upper abdomen (more common) or throughout the abdomen (less common)
Unintentional weight loss
Weakness
Yellow skin (jaundice)

Signs and tests:

Tests may include:

Abdominal CT scan
Abdominal ultrasound
Blood culture for bacteria
Liver biopsy
Liver enzymes (liver function tests) and bilirubin
White blood cell count

Digestive system

Pyogenic abscess

Digestive system organs

Reviewed last on: 9/17/2008
Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Jatin M Vyas, PhD, MD, Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Chung RT, Friedman LS. Bacterial, parasitic, and fungal infections of the liver, including liver abscess. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Sleisenger MH, eds. Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2006: chap 79.

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