Gallbladder Problems – Symptoms and Types of Diseases

The gallbladder:-
• Is a pear shaped organ
• Is situated under the liver in the abdomen
• Stores bile (a mixture of fluids, fat and cholesterol)
• Helps vitamins and nutrients to be absorbed easily into the blood

Gallbladder Problems – Symptoms
• Pain
– Usually occurs in the upper abdomen
– Could be mild and infrequent or severe and frequent
– Pain may radiate to the back and chest
• Nausea or Vomiting
• Acid reflux and gas
• Fever or Chills (usually sign of an infection)
• Chronic Diarrhea (More than four bowel movements a day, continuously for weeks)
• Jaundice
• Unusual Stools or Urine
– Stools will be light in colour
– Urine will be dark and yellow
– Usually a symptom of bile duct blocks

Gallbladder Diseases
• Cholecystitis- Is the inflammation of the gallbladder(can be acute or chronic)
• Gallstones- Small, hard deposits, usually harmless, but if infected can cause inflammation and pain
• Choledocholithiasis – Common bile duct stones which occur in the tube that joins the gall bladder to the intestines.

Infection can cause Pain and Inflammation
• Acalculous gallbladder disease – Similar symptoms as gallstones but there is an absence of gallstones
• Bile duct infection – Common bile duct stones cause infection in the bile duct channel. May need emergency treatment
• Abscess of the Gallbladder – Gallstones infect gallbladder causing pus (empyema) Causes severe abdominal pain. Needs immediate attention
• Gallstone Ileus – Gallstones move into the intestine blocking it. Prevalent among the elderly
• Perforated Gallbladder – Occurs when gallstones are not treated for too long. Perforates the gallbladder. Can be fatal since infection will spread quickly
• Gallbladder Polyps – Growths in the gallbladder which can be benign. Not dangerous, but larger ones may have to be removed
• Porcelain Gallbladders – Calcium deposits stiffen the walls of the gallbladder, making them rigid.
• Gallbladder Cancer – Is rare but can spread fast if undetected

Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and pediatric trauma care.

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