Liver abscess risks (advanced stage?)

**vampyroteuthis** · 08-04-2011, 12:30 AM

Friend of mine has been diagnosed with a liver abscess. This comes after around three weeks of misdiagnosis while he's away visiting Canada. They thought it was bronchitis, then pneumonia, then typhoid. He's in the hospital there now and his liver is being drained.

I'm not very knowledgeable about these things, nor is there anyone around whom I could ask right now, so my apologies if these questions are somewhat stupid. I looked it up on the internet and I can't find detailed information on what the risks are, or how to assess them. He had a fever above 101, fatigue, breathing trouble, and delirium. I was told he had a very high fever but it's come down over the past few days. These symptoms supposedly mean that it is "life threatening", but on the other hand it says the risks are manageable if he's been treated in time.

I don't know what this means. The abscess was detected fairly late, but his fever has reduced and he's been getting treatment for his symptoms for the past two weeks, almost. But they diagnosed him wrong, so I don't know if those treatments were helpful. He was given three different kinds of antibiotics for bronchitis, pneumonia, and typhoid, none of which he apparently has. Would that help or hurt the situation? Does this mean his condition is now "life threatening"? No one around here will say much other than pap like, "oh, he'll be fine, you know his constitution..." and I don't know any doctors/medical professionals I could ask. Any information, or links to more informative sites than the standard Google hits for "liver abscess", would be very welcome. Thanks.

**HackerX** · 08-04-2011, 01:06 AM

See:

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I suspect the high fever (and length of such) counted towards the "life threatening" status, and the treatments given (anti biotics) would have been aimed towards lowering that (typically causes of fever is that the body raises it's temperature as a response to infection). That's true for all the diagnoses given (since they're all infections, including the liver abscess).

One presumes that the antibiotics were most likely beneficial (not knowledgable enough to determine whether a particular type he might have been given was suited). In the least, they wouldn't have been detrimental and given the above links he's probably still on antibiotics (probably stronger ones/via an IV).

A reduction in fever is a positive sign
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Complications seem related around sepsis (infection to the point of dangerous toxicity). Think burst appendix (Simply speaking, this liver abscess is kind of similar to appendicitis, where if it gets to far and "bursts" it becomes dangerous).

**vampyroteuthis** · 08-05-2011, 11:26 AM

Thank you for the explanation. And you were right. His fever is almost down to normal now and apparently he got up on his own and walked around the hospital room a bit today, and chatted with his family for a while. Huge improvement from two days ago when he couldn't talk or drink water. They're draining his liver and the doctors say the risk of sepsis is low.
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08-04-2011, 12:30 AM	#1
vampyroteuthis Core Member [179%] MBTI: INTP Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 7,178	Friend of mine has been diagnosed with a liver abscess. This comes after around three weeks of misdiagnosis while he's away visiting Canada. They thought it was bronchitis, then pneumonia, then typhoid. He's in the hospital there now and his liver is being drained. I'm not very knowledgeable about these things, nor is there anyone around whom I could ask right now, so my apologies if these questions are somewhat stupid. I looked it up on the internet and I can't find detailed information on what the risks are, or how to assess them. He had a fever above 101, fatigue, breathing trouble, and delirium. I was told he had a very high fever but it's come down over the past few days. These symptoms supposedly mean that it is "life threatening", but on the other hand it says the risks are manageable if he's been treated in time. I don't know what this means. The abscess was detected fairly late, but his fever has reduced and he's been getting treatment for his symptoms for the past two weeks, almost. But they diagnosed him wrong, so I don't know if those treatments were helpful. He was given three different kinds of antibiotics for bronchitis, pneumonia, and typhoid, none of which he apparently has. Would that help or hurt the situation? Does this mean his condition is now "life threatening"? No one around here will say much other than pap like, "oh, he'll be fine, you know his constitution..." and I don't know any doctors/medical professionals I could ask. Any information, or links to more informative sites than the standard Google hits for "liver abscess", would be very welcome. Thanks.
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08-04-2011, 01:06 AM	#2
HackerX Core Member [166%] MBTI: INTP Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 6,665	See: To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. I suspect the high fever (and length of such) counted towards the "life threatening" status, and the treatments given (anti biotics) would have been aimed towards lowering that (typically causes of fever is that the body raises it's temperature as a response to infection). That's true for all the diagnoses given (since they're all infections, including the liver abscess). One presumes that the antibiotics were most likely beneficial (not knowledgable enough to determine whether a particular type he might have been given was suited). In the least, they wouldn't have been detrimental and given the above links he's probably still on antibiotics (probably stronger ones/via an IV). A reduction in fever is a positive sign To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Complications seem related around sepsis (infection to the point of dangerous toxicity). Think burst appendix (Simply speaking, this liver abscess is kind of similar to appendicitis, where if it gets to far and "bursts" it becomes dangerous). Last edited by HackerX; 08-04-2011 at 02:28 AM. Reason: Missed a few s's
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08-05-2011, 11:26 AM	#3
vampyroteuthis Core Member [179%] MBTI: INTP Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 7,178	Thank you for the explanation. And you were right. His fever is almost down to normal now and apparently he got up on his own and walked around the hospital room a bit today, and chatted with his family for a while. Huge improvement from two days ago when he couldn't talk or drink water. They're draining his liver and the doctors say the risk of sepsis is low. To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
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