A variety of causes can cause cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder), most often it is an infection, gallstone disease or a parasitic disease. The problem is common, occurring in all age and gender groups, although it is most common in women who eat a lot and often. Also provokes the occurrence of acute cholecystitis mechanical stagnation of bile, including those caused by nutritional errors and alcohol consumption. Among the dietary disorders, the most conducive to the disease is the combination of long periods of hunger with overeating. Contribute to the development of inflammation and factors such as physical inactivity, pregnancy and chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, pancreatitis). Violations of the outflow of bile due to the pathology of muscle fibers (both the bladder itself and the biliary tract) create favorable conditions for the “ascension” of infection from the intestine and the development of bacterial inflammation, as well as for the formation of stones (which, in turn, after some time, too can cause severe inflammation). The picture of acute cholecystitis may well be due to the presence of parasites - Giardia. This disease(giardiasis) is especially common in children.
Symptoms and manifestations
If acute cholecystitis has developed, its clinic will be the same, regardless of the cause. Suddenly, there is an acute severe pain in the right hypochondrium, often it radiates (gives) to the back and shoulder blade (usually on the right side). Typical manifestations: fever (sometimes the temperature rises to quite high numbers), headache and sweating, nausea up to vomiting, and sometimes diarrhea. With a mechanical violation of the outflow of bile (usually due to blockage of the biliary tract by stones), jaundice may develop. The muscles at the top of the abdomen are usually tense, tapping under the costal arch and pressing with a finger at the point of intersection of the rectus abdominis muscle with it will give severe pain. However, you should not get carried away with checking medical symptoms; special education is required to accurately identify them.
What to be afraid of
The danger of acute cholecystitis lies in its complications. An extremely high risk situation is the development of secondary pancreatitis. However, it is often difficult to understand the sequence of inflammations, and it is not really necessary. If the symptoms of intoxication intensify, and the pains become shingles, then there is inflammation of the pancreas. The only correct action is to call an ambulance, because pancreatitis is a condition that is really life-threatening. The second most dangerous complication is perforation, that is, rupture of the gallbladder wall. Is it worth explaining that the outpouringbile straight into the abdominal cavity instantly causes inflammation - peritonitis!
Treatment
Help for acute cholecystitis should be provided by a doctor. At home, you need to refuse to eat, observe bed rest and call a specialist. No further action should be taken. If an attack of acute pain occurs against the background of chronic inflammation, then you can try to stop it with medicines known to you (antispasmodics, cholagogues), but even in this case it is better to consult a doctor.
Drug therapy for acute cholecystitis includes analgesia with antispasmodics (which simultaneously improves the outflow of bile), detoxification and intravenous infusions, antibacterial drugs. With an increase, despite the treatment, symptoms of intoxication or with the development of complications, a surgical operation is performed. If there is no peritonitis, then it can be performed with minimal trauma using endoscopic techniques.
