Common gallbladder diseases include gallstones, inflammation, perforation of the gallbladder, and bile duct stenosis, with symptoms such as severe right abdominal pain, bloating, fever, and chills.
The gallbladder releases bile through ducts into the small intestine to break down food. If the bile ducts become blocked, it can cause various diseases. Symptoms vary depending on the type of gallbladder condition:
Gallstones: Small or large stones that develop inside the gallbladder. These stones form from substances in bile, including cholesterol and the pigment bilirubin. Gallstones can cause biliary colic. However, many people have no symptoms because gallstones do not block the bile ducts.
Biliary colic typically lasts from 1-5 hours, but can also last up to 24 hours, and is common after fatty meals. Patients need treatment if gallstones cause serious complications such as: severe abdominal pain that makes it impossible to sit, lie still, or swallow food; jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes); and high fever with chills.
Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder): The most common cause of cholecystitis is gallstones irritating the gallbladder wall, causing swelling and pain. Other causes include excessive alcohol consumption, infections, intestinal bacteria, or tumors that cause bile to accumulate. An inflammatory episode can last for several hours or even days and may be accompanied by fever.
Perforated gallbladder: Inflammation of the gallbladder can lead to a serious complication: a ruptured gallbladder. This condition can be life-threatening and requires surgery.
Biliary tract pain: This condition can be caused by the body not emptying the gallbladder properly, or by an overly sensitive bile duct or small intestine. Sometimes gallstones pass through the bile duct, causing pain and requiring surgery.
Severe right upper or central abdominal pain may indicate gallbladder disease. (Image: Freepik)
Biliary tract infection: The majority of inflammatory cases in the biliary system are due to a combination of bile duct obstruction and bacterial infection. Bacteria that accumulate above the obstruction can invade the liver and cause severe infection.
AIDS-related bile duct stenosis: In people with AIDS, a weakened immune system leads to frequent and widespread infections, which can result in bile duct stenosis.
Primary sclerosing cholangitis: This can be an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues.
Gallbladder abscess: Severe gallbladder infection can lead to an abscess (inflammation of the gallbladder with pus).
Porcelain gallbladder: This condition occurs when the gallbladder wall calcifies, appearing porcelain-like on X-rays. Porcelain gallbladders have a very high risk of developing cancer and require surgical removal.
Gallbladder polyps: These are growths that protrude from the surface of the inner wall of the gallbladder. Some polyps form due to inflammation or cholesterol deposits in the gallbladder wall. According to the American Cancer Society, about 95% of gallbladder polyps are non-surgical. Gallbladder polyps are benign, with a very low chance of becoming cancerous, but they can occur. If it is larger than one centimeter, it is more likely to become cancerous, and therefore should be removed.
Gallbladder disease: This includes inflammation, infection, gallstones, or blockage of the gallbladder. Most gallbladder symptoms begin with pain in the upper right or middle abdomen. The disease is often detected during X-rays, CT scans, or abdominal surgery. People should seek medical attention if they experience any symptoms of gallbladder disease.
Mai Cat (According to Everyday Health )
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