The authors report the case of a young adult with an amebic liver abscess. The primary infection localized in the gut occurred during a vacation in Africa. This disorder is fairly uncommon in western countries which is why the authors considered it worthwhile to draw practitioners' attention to it, stressing that it should be taken into account in differential diagnosis of fever of unknown origin in young adults who have travelled to regions where amebiasis is endemic. In addition, the diagnostic procedures used and especially the treatment applied are briefly set out. Medical therapy is almost always successful but if significant improvement is not achieved within a reasonable lapse of time and if complications are suspected, all possible therapeutic measures, including surgery, must be applied.