Liver abscess caused by Fasciola in children in southern Vietnam

Fasciola infection is an emerging cause of liver abscess in children, yet pediatric data from Vietnam remain limited. This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics, laboratory findings and treatment outcomes of liver abscess caused by Fasciola in Vietnamese children.

A retrospective study was conducted on 25 pediatric patients with Fasciola-related liver abscess at Children's Hospital 2. Treatment consisted of triclabendazole at 10 mg/kg per dose, given twice every 12-24 h and administered after meals.

The most common clinical features were right upper quadrant abdominal pain (95%), hepatomegaly (68%) and vomiting (24%). The predominant laboratory abnormalities included neutrophilia (72%), elevated C-reactive protein levels (68%) and leukocytosis (56%). Ultrasonography revealed that most patients had a single abscess (75%), predominantly located in the right hepatic lobe (58.3%), with an abscess diameter ≤5 cm (70.8%). One case was not detected on ultrasound and required CT for diagnosis. The treatment success rate with triclabendazole was 96.0%.

In children presenting with clinical features suggestive of Fasciola-related liver abscess, ultrasonography is a routine and effective screening tool for early detection. Triclabendazole is a safe and effective treatment for Fasciola-related liver abscess in pediatric patients.