Epidemiology

Liver abscess is an uncommon disease. The annual incidence is approximately 3.6 per 100,000 in the US and the UK​​ and ranges from 8 to 20 cases per 100,000 hospital admissions in most series.[4][6]​​​[7][8]​ The annual incidence of liver abscess may be higher in parts of Asia (e.g., approximately 15 cases per 100,000/year in Taiwan).[9][10]​ Most cases of amoebic infections occur in Central and South America, Africa, and Asia.[11] Amoebiasis (and subsequent amoebic liver abscess) in developed countries is seen most commonly in immigrants and travellers from endemic areas.[2]​[12][13]​​​​​

The incidence of liver abscess increases with age, occurring slightly more often in men than in women.[3]​​[4][6][9][14] Epidemiological studies have shown that the incidence of liver abscess has been increasing while the mortality has been stable or decreasing.[6][9][14] The trend of increasing incidence may be due to the availability of more sensitive diagnostic tests than in the past (e.g., computed tomography scan) or to the increasing prevalence of predisposing conditions.

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