Related Experiment Videos
Amebic liver abscess in infancy: case report and review
J L Johnson1, J S Baird, T V Hulbert
1Department of Pediatrics, Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Medical Center 90033.
Insights
Amebic liver abscess (ALA) is rare in infants and presents with nonspecific symptoms like fever and anemia. This potentially lethal condition has a nearly 50% mortality rate in infants, necessitating early diagnosis and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Hepatology
Background:
- Amebic liver abscess (ALA) is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening condition, particularly in infants.
- Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for improving outcomes in pediatric ALA cases.
Observation:
- This study presents a case of ALA in a 10-month-old infant and analyzes 18 previously reported infant cases in the US.
- Infant ALA symptoms are nonspecific, including fever, hepatomegaly, anemia, and elevated transaminases, differing from adult presentations.
- Colitis may be present in infants, but parasitic examination results are often negative, complicating diagnosis.
Findings:
- Amebic serology is negative in approximately one-third of infants diagnosed with ALA.
- The clinical course of ALA in infants is typically fulminant.
- The mortality rate for ALA in infants approaches 50%.
Implications:
- The nonspecific presentation and potential for negative serology in infants highlight the need for a high index of suspicion for ALA.
- The high mortality rate underscores the urgency for prompt diagnosis and aggressive management strategies in pediatric ALA.
- Further research into earlier diagnostic markers and treatment protocols for infant ALA is warranted.
Abstract:
Amebic liver abscess (ALA) is uncommon in the United States and is potentially lethal when acquired during the first year of life. The clinical course of ALA in a 10-month-old infant is presented and the characteristics of 18 previously described cases of infants with ALA from the United States are reported; this infant population (including our patient) is compared with a population of adults with ALA. In contrast to the initial signs in adults, those in infants are nonspecific and include fever, hepatomegaly, anemia, and elevated levels of transaminases. Colitis may occur in infants, but results of examinations for ova or parasites are usually negative. On presentation the amebic serology for one-third of infants with ALA is negative. The clinical course of ALA in infants is usually fulminant and is associated with a mortality rate of nearly 50%.