Pyogenic liver abscess in children: is ruptured appendix still relevant as cause? Case report

Pyogenic liver abscess [PLA] is a rare and life-threatening disease in children. Appendicitis was the leading source of PLA in the pre-antibiotic era, but it essentially has been eliminated in recent times. Most patients with persistent fever after exploratory laparatomy for perforated appendicitis are often found to have residual abdominal collection. We report a 12-year old girl with PLA after laparotomy for perforated appendix. She developed persistent fever and respiratory distress post operatively. Physicians had an impression of pneumonia but abdominal ultrasound showed cystic mass with mobile internal echoes within the right lobe of the liver suggesting an abscess. Patient was successfully managed by percutaneous drainage under ultrasound guidance. Culture of the pus yielded no growth. She was discharged after 7 weeks of hospital stay. Aetiology, evaluation and treatment modalities were reviewed.