Symptoms of Gallbladder Problems in Children

The gallbladder is a sac like organ in our body which is located under the liver. Its prime function is to store bile that helps in digestion. But sometimes due to certain abnormalities, stones develop in it called gallstones which block the ducts carrying the bile from the gallbladder to the small intestine. This results in the inflammation or infection of gallbladder, called cholecystitis.

Cholecystitis is further classified as acute or chronic. Acute cholecystitis commonly occurs in younger children due to a viral or bacterial infection. Due to infection, the gallbladder may fill with fluid and its walls may also thicken. Rarely, a form of acute cholecystitis called acalculous cholecystitis which is without gallstones occurs, hence, majority of the sufferers develop gallstones which is a less severe condition than acalculous cholecystitis. Chronic cholecystitis is gallbladder inflammation that usually lasts for a longer time and occurs due to formation of gallstones in the gallbladder. The bladder gets damaged due to repeated attacks of acute inflammation and may turn thick, scarred and small. About 40% of all pediatric cases of chronic cholecystitis occur in children below 11 years of age and 60% occur in children between 11 – 20 years of age.

Occurence of Gallstones

Children normally develop black pigment, cholesterol, calcium carbonate, protein dominant, or brown pigment stones. Black pigment stones which are formed when bile becomes supersaturated with calcium bilirubinate (the calcium salt of unconjugated bilirubin), constitute 48% of gallstones in children. Brown pigment stones being rare, account for only 3% of gallstones in children, and are made of calcium bilirubinate and the calcium salts of fatty acids. They are more likely to occur in the bile ducts than in the gallbladder. Calcium carbonate stones, which are rare in adults and are more common in children account for 24% of stones in children while the remaining portion of gallstones in children are protein-dominant stones, which account for only 5%.

Causes for Gallbladder Problems

Although it is not a life-threatening disease, there are various contributing factors that can lead to gallbladder problems in children.

• Impaired immune system


• History of abdominal surgery


• Prolonged parenteral nutrition


• Hemolytic disease, lysis or destruction of erythrocytes (blood cells) with the release of hemoglobin


• Hepatobiliary disease, a chronic liver disease that affects the liver or biliary tract


• Obesity and trauma


• Acute renal failure


• Prolonged fasting


• Low calorie diet


• Certain medications

Signs and Symptoms of Gallbladder Problems

Diseased-gallbladder symptoms in children usually begin suddenly and are ofter misunderstood for other health problems like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, some of the common gallstone symptoms in children are:

• Pain: Whether it is acute or chronic cholecystitis, the child will usually experience pain in the upper right side of the abdomen which may reach at its peak after 15 – 60 minutes and remain persistent until the attack is over. The attack may last for a very long time, normally from 6 – 12 hours. The pain can also be felt in the shoulder and back regions.


• Fever: The child may gradually develop fever that tends to rise above 100.4° F (38° C) and may be accompanied by chills. Studies show this symptom develop in about one third of children with acute cholecystitis.


• Other Signs: Nausea, vomiting, indigestion, gas, bloating, burping, belching especially after meals, are some other symptoms in children which should not be taken lightly and need immediate medical attention.

After knowing the aforementioned gallbladder disease symptoms in children, if you observe any of these in your child, immediately consult your pediatrician for necessary diagnosis and treatment. Normally, if the gallstones do not bother your child, no treatment is needed. But if your child is getting repeated attacks, then the pediatrician will recommend some effective treatments which can also include a gallbladder removal surgery in severe cases.

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