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Clinical features

Authoring team

The clinical picture of a subphrenic abscess is one of a patient who develops features of toxicity 2 to 21 days after making an initial recovery from an episode of peritonitis or an operation; these features are:

  • swinging fever
  • malaise, nausea, weight loss
  • there may also be upper abdominal pain that radiates to shoulder tip
  • there may also be breathlessness, due to lower lobe lung collapse or development of a pleural effusion

On examination:

  • swinging pyrexia
  • sometimes abdominal tenderness in the subcostal region and/or signs of a pleural effusion

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The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

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