Amoebic Abscess or Amoebic Liver Abscess: Recovery Period, Prevention, Prognosis, Coping

Amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess is caused by a parasite called as Entamoeba histolytica. This particular parasite reasons to intestinal infection called as amebic dysentery. Once the infection is manifested, it will move on from intestines to liver causing amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess.

In this article you will learn about the recovery period for amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess, prevention, coping, prognosis for amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess.

Full recovery period/healing time for amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess is dependent on the size of the abscess and nature of drug therapy/ treatment mode and location of the abscess. It is also dependent on the severity of the abscess. The age of the patient is also a contributing factor and prior health of the patient. If the patient had other underlying issues, healing usually takes longer but the good news is that the treatment is usually effective. The healing period is different for every patient and your doctor should give you the approximate recovery period/healing time for amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess.

The major contributory cause of amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess is poor sanitation. If adequate sanitation can be observed, then amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess would not be such a threatening ailment and can be prevented. There are several ways we can apply in our daily lives to prevent and eradiate amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess.

• Ensure that you observe proper good hygiene by washing your hands before handling food to prevent amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess.
• For areas prone to amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess, it is recommended that water should be boiled before drinking to make it safe to drink.
• When cooking or eating vegetables, avoid eating raw vegetables that are not washed. Take time to clean your vegetables with water and soap before cooking or eating.
• This is very important to prevent amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess.
• After visiting the toilet, ensure that you wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water and wipe your hands dry to prevent amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess.
• Avoid handling food or water after visiting the toilet before washing your hands.
• If you have a child who is a toddler and using nappies, ensure that you wash your hands with soap and water after every nappy change
• Keep personal effects private. Do not share personal effects such as bathing towels in order to prevent amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess.
• Avoid preparing food or serving food to others whilst you are sick with amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess. This will reduce the spread of amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess to other family members or people around you.
• Wash the door handles of your toilets with soap and water regularly and clean the cloth that you wash with
• Wash the toilets regularly with disinfectant and soap and adequate water
• When you are sick, take a rest and avoid contact with people as much as possible so that amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess infection is prevented.
• You do not have to go to school or work when you are sick with amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess. Remember that one of the causes of amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess is contact from person to person and it takes time to manifest itself. Give yourself time to recover fully from the drug treatment
• Avoid excessive alcohol consumption. People who are alcoholics are prone to amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess as they are more at risk to getting sick.
• Whenever possible, eat a balances diet to avoid malnutrition. With malnutrition, you become vulnerable to getting amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess if you live in an area prone to amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess.
• When travelling in endemic areas, avoid eating raw foods such as fruits or drinking water which is not boiled. Opt for bottled water and avoid foods that are easily contaminated or eat in areas that have good and proper sanitation.

When a patient is sick with amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess, the road to recovery is solely dependent on several factors and the underlying one is pegged on the patient.

• Ensure that you manage your lifestyle by eating healthy foods such as whole grain foods, low fat content dairy products; fish, fruits and vegetables. Consult with your doctor if you need to be on a special diet so that you manage the recovery period well. This will help in proper coping with amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess.
• Take plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
• Consult with your doctor on what exercises you can do in your fragile condition. For instance slow walks. Do not over indulge in physical exercise. Your care giver is best placed to advise you on the best home manageable exercises for coping with amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess.
• Avoid stress by all means. Stress slows the healing process and in turn brings other sicknesses. Focus on getting well first in order to properly cope with amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess.
• Ensure that you go for follow ups with your doctor. Follow ups are essential because they give the doctor a chance to re-examine you and check any recurrences and assess your recovery journey.
• Do not consume alcohol or smoke cigarettes in the process of coping with amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess.

Contact your physicist if you observe the following symptoms while coping with amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess:

• Sudden fever
• Cough, change in color of the skin to red color or if you have swollen skin.
• If you have skin rash
• If the wound is swollen or if pus is coming out of it.

Go to emergency care if you observe the following while coping with amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess:

• Seizures/convulsions and vomiting.
• Extreme pain in the abdomen.
• Sudden breathing trouble.

In most cases, patients the prognosis/outlook for amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess is good as patients successfully respond to treatment.

However, abscesses are prone to rupture if they are severe which can cause fatality when the abscess spreads to other organs causing complications. In cases of open surgery, surgical mortality poses a higher mortality rate owing to the sensitivity of the operation. Unless necessary, surgery for treating amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess should be avoided be and used only when there is a rupture in adjacent body parts. There are rare cases when the abscess ruptures and touches on the brain which is fatal and in such instances, immediate medical attention is important. Amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess is pegged on proper sanitation. If sanitation can be improved and adhered to, amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess is manageable and can be reduced significantly.

Owing to poor sanitation, amoebic abscess or amoebic liver abscess is recording a high prevalence of around 40 to 50 million occurrence cases worldwide. It is fatal if not attended to especially when complications accompany it. There is need to sensitize people and create awareness of the high increase of the disease to reduce occurrence. This can be done by assisting people on proper sanitation and sustaining it.

Also Read:

• What is Amoebic Abscess or Amoebic Liver Abscess: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Prevalence
• Treatment of Amoebic Abscess or Amoebic Liver Abscess