Liver abscess is common in pediatric population in India. Children have unique set of predisposing factors and clinical features. Liver abscesses are infectious, space-occupying lesions in the liver; the two most common abscesses being pyogenic and amebic. Its severity depends on the source of the infection and the underlying condition of the patient.

A total of 34 patients less than 12 years were assessed in a retrospective study from January 2012 to 2016. Patients were assessed in terms of age of presentation, etiology, bacteriology, diagnosis, and modality of treatment.

The mean age of presentation was 6.3 years. Average volume of abscess was 164 cc. Nine patients (26.4%) underwent percutaneous needle aspiration under ultrasound guidance with wide bore needle (18 G disposable needle). Three patients required more than two sittings of aspiration. Patients with volume more than 80 cc were treated with catheter drainage. Twenty patients (58.8%) underwent ultrasound-guided percutaneous catheter drainage. Two patients required catheter drainage for large abscess and needle aspiration for the smaller abscess.

Antimicrobial therapy along with percutaneous drainage constitutes the mainstay of treatment, whereas open surgical drainage should be reserved for selected cases.

Waghmare M, Shah H, Tiwari C, Khedkar K, Gandhi S. Management of Liver Abscess in Children: Our Experience. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2017;7(1):23-26.