Secondary pleuropulmonary amoebiasis due to liver abscess rupture: A complication case report in low resource setting

BACKGROUND: Pleuropulmonary amoebiasis caused by complications of amoebic liver abscess (ALA) is rare. CASE PRESENTATION: A 23 years old male, presented with shortness of breath, cough with yellowish phlegm, right chest pain, fever, bulging stomach, yellow eyes, and swelling of both legs. Abdominal ultrasound and CT scan thorax and abdomen revealed right fluidopneumothorax and liver abscess. Serological testing leads to Entamoeba histolytica infection, which was treated with metronidazole but no significant improvement on empyema and abscess liver size. Surgery was performed after percutaneous aspiration drainage failed to evacuate the abscess. HE and PAS staining from surgical tissue showed Entamoeba hystolitica infection. DISCUSSION: Serological testing and radiological examination will be more useful in the early detection of cases of Entamoeba hystolitica infection. Surgery may be considered when purulent drainage does not show improvement in the patient's condition. CONCLUSION: ALA complication that causes pulmonary empyema can be surgically treated if the pus cannot be drained.