Pyogenic Liver Abscess in Normal Children With Fever of Unknown Origin

Abstract

Solitary pyogenic hepatic abscesses were identified as the cause of fever, abdominal pain, and hepatomegaly in two otherwise normal children who were seen at St. Louis Children's Hospital during the past year. Liver function tests were normal and blood cultures were negative in both patients. These cases illustrate that pyogenic liver abscess may occur in normal children and should be considered whenever fever of unknown origin is associated with abdominal complaints. Only in this way can we hope to improve upon the results cited previously, namely that the majority of liver abscesses remain undiagnosed during life.