Liver abscesses in the Western pediatric population
L Grossar1, I Hoffman2, E Sokal3
1Department of Pediatrics, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Acta Gastro-Enterologica Belgica
|July 14, 2022
Summary
Pediatric liver abscesses are rare but treatable, with most children recovering well. Key predisposing factors include hepatobiliary disease and cancer therapy. Early diagnosis and appropriate cultures are crucial for effective treatment of pediatric liver abscesses.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Hepatology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Liver abscesses are uncommon in Western children, with limited data on causes and risk factors.
- Understanding these factors is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate predisposing factors, microbiological characteristics, and treatment outcomes of pediatric liver abscesses.
- To compare findings with existing literature.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 24 pediatric cases admitted to two Belgian tertiary care hospitals between 1996 and 2019.
- Data collected included clinical features, predisposing factors, imaging, microbiology, treatment, and outcomes.
Main Results:
- The median age was 3.2 years, with a 95.8% survival rate.
- Hepatobiliary disease (25%), antineoplastic therapy (20.8%), and intra-abdominal surgery (16.7%) were common predisposing factors.
- Bacterial growth was found in 55% of cultures, with cryptogenic abscesses in 16.7% of cases.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric liver abscesses generally have a favorable prognosis in developed countries.
- Obtaining invasive abscess cultures is recommended when feasible.
- Immunological workup is advised for cryptogenic or atypical cases.
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