Liver abscess

A liver abscess is a pocket of pus in the liver. It’s usually caused by a bacterial infection, but can also be caused by a fungal or parasitic infection. 

Symptoms of liver abscess

How a liver abscess is diagnosed

How to treat a liver abscess



There are many ways to develop a liver abscess, including:

- having an infection that spreads to the liver through the bile ducts or liver’s blood vessels
- liver injury
- a nearby infection that directly spreads into the liver

You may have 1 or more liver abscesses.

## Symptoms of liver abscess

If you have a liver abscess, you may develop symptoms, including:

- fever and chills
- tummy pain and tenderness – usually in the upper right side
- weight loss – without trying to lose weight
- feeling generally unwell
- tiredness
- feeling sick or being sick
- cough and shortness of breath
- right shoulder pain
- skin and whites of eyes turning yellow ([jaundice](/health-library/conditions/jaundice))

See a doctor if you have, or think you may have, a liver abscess.



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## How a liver abscess is diagnosed

Your doctor may suspect a liver abscess based on your symptoms, medical history and after looking at and/or feeling your tummy area (abdomen). They may also do blood tests,

imaging scans ([CT ](/health-library/medical-exams/ct-scan)or [ultrasound](/health-library/medical-exams/ultrasound-scan)) and take a sample of pus from the abscess using a small needle.



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## How to treat a liver abscess

If you have a liver abscess, it may be treated with antibiotics and by draining the pus. This can be done in several ways, including putting a needle or a small tube (catheter) or surgery.


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References

Dr Lauretta Ihonor

Dr Ann Nainan

Article information

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A liver abscess is a pocket of pus in the liver. It’s usually caused by a bacterial infection, but can also be caused by a fungal or parasitic infection. Here’s how to treat a liver abscess.