[Amebic liver abscess: review of 9 cases]

Amoebiasis is an infection of the large intestine produced by the protozoan Entamoeba histolytica. More than 10% of the world population is estimated to be infected. The italian pattern of this infection is similar to the EEC trend: the prevalence is approximately 0.012% during the years '88 and '89. Hepatic abscesses usually present with moderate fever, weight loss and abdominal pain. During the last ten years nine patients with amoebic liver abscesses were admitted to our hospital, six males and three females (all had acquired the infection in tropical countries). After ultrasonographic and computed tomography scanning evaluation, all patients were treated with metronidazole at the dosage of 750 mg three times a day for a period ranging from 30 to 60 days. In five patients Chloroquine was added at the dosage of 1.2 g a day for fourteen days. In five patients became necessary a surgical drainage under ultrasonographic control.