Symptoms of Gallstones
Symptoms of Gallstones
The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources
for Gallstones includes the 26
symptoms listed below:
Research symptoms & diagnosis of Gallstones:
Gallstones: Complications
Review medical complications possibly associated with Gallstones:
Gallstones Symptoms: Book Excerpts
Diagnostic Testing
Diagnostic testing of medical conditions related to Gallstones:
Research More About Gallstones
Do I have Gallstones?
Wrongly Diagnosed with Gallstones?
The list of other diseases or medical conditions
that may be on the differential diagnosis list of alternative diagnoses
for Gallstones includes:
See the full list of 18
alternative diagnoses for Gallstones
More about symptoms of Gallstones:
More information about symptoms of Gallstones and related conditions:
Other Possible Causes of these Symptoms
Click on any of the symptoms below to see a full list
of other causes including diseases, medical conditions, toxins, drug interactions,
or drug side effect causes of that symptom.
Medical Books Online about Gallstones
Medical Books Excerpts
Excerpts of published medical book chapters related to Gallstones
are available from published medical books
for more detailed information about Gallstones.
Medical Books Excerpts
- Colic
- "The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult" (2008)
- [ read ]
Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.
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Symptoms of Gallstones: Online Medical Books
16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE!
Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration,
for more information about the symptoms of Gallstones.
Calcium imbalance:
Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Calcium deficit causes nerve fiber irritability and repetitive muscle spasms. Consequently, characteristic symptoms of hypocalcemia include perioral paresthesia, twitching, carpopedal spasm, tetany, seizures and, possibly, cardiac arrhythmias. Chvostek’s sign and Trousseau’s sign are reliable indicators of hypocalcemia. (See Trousseau’s sign. Also see Chvostek’s sign, page 918.)
Clinical effects of hypercalcemia include muscle weakness, decreased muscle tone, lethargy, anorexia, constipation, nausea, vomiting, dehydration, polydipsia, and polyuria. Severe hypercalcemia (serum levels that exceed 15 mg/dl) may produce cardiac arrhythmias and, eventually, coma.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Cholelithiasis and related disorders:
Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Although gallbladder disease may produce no symptoms, acute cholelithiasis, acute cholecystitis, choledocholithiasis, and cholesterolosis produce the symptoms of a classic gallbladder attack. Attacks usually follow meals rich in fats or may occur at night, suddenly awakening the patient. They begin with acute abdominal pain in the right upper quadrant that may radiate to the back, between the shoulders, or to the front of the chest; the pain may be so severe that the patient seeks emergency department care. Other features may include recurring fat intolerance, biliary colic, belching, flatulence, indigestion, diaphoresis, nausea, vomiting, chills, low-grade fever, jaundice (if a stone obstructs the common bile duct), and clay-colored stools (with choledocholithiasis).
Clinical features of cholangitis include a rise in eosinophils, jaundice, abdominal pain, high fever, and chills; biliary cirrhosis may produce jaundice, related itching, weakness, fatigue, slight weight loss, and abdominal pain. Gallstone ileus produces signs and symptoms of small-bowel obstruction — nausea, vomiting, abdominal distention, and absent bowel sounds if the bowel is completely obstructed. Its most telling symptom is intermittent recurrence of colicky pain over several days.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Calcium imbalance:
Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)
Indications of calcium imbalance depend on the type of imbalance. (See Signs and symptoms of calcium imbalance.)
Hypocalcemia
A lack of calcium causes nerve fiber irritability and repetitive muscle spasms. Consequently, characteristic signs and symptoms of hypocalcemia include perioral paresthesia, twitching, carpopedal spasm, tetany, seizures and, possibly, cardiac arrhythmias. Although Chvostek’s and Trousseau’s signs are reliable indicators of hypocalcemia, they aren’t specific.
Hypercalcemia
Signs and symptoms of hypercalcemia include muscle weakness, decreased muscle tone, lethargy, anorexia, constipation, nausea, vomiting, dehydration, polydipsia, and polyuria. When calcium levels are greater than 3.2 mmol/L (13 mg/dL), calcification in kidneys, skin, vessels, lungs, heart, and stomach occurs and renal insufficiency may develop, especially if blood phosphate levels are normal or elevated due to impaired renal function. Severe hypercalcemia (serum levels that exceed 4.5 mmol/L or greater than 18 mg/dL) may produce cardiac arrhythmias and, eventually, coma.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, and related disorders:
Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)
Although gallbladder disease may produce no symptoms, acute cholelithiasis, acute cholecystitis, choledocholithiasis, and cholesterolosis all produce the symptoms of a classic gallbladder attack. Such attacks commonly follow meals rich in fats or may occur at night, suddenly awakening the patient.
A gallbladder attack may begin with acute abdominal pain in the right upper quadrant that may radiate to the back, between the shoulders, or to the front of the chest. The pain may be so severe that the patient seeks emergency care.
Other signs and symptoms include recurring fat intolerance, biliary colic, belching, flatulence, indigestion, diaphoresis, nausea, vomiting, chills, low-grade fever, jaundice (if a stone obstructs the common bile duct), and clay-colored stool (with choledocholithiasis).
Signs and symptoms of cholangitis include a rise in eosinophils, jaundice, abdominal pain, high fever, and chills. Biliary cirrhosis may produce jaundice, related itching, weakness, fatigue, slight weight loss, and abdominal pain. Gallstone ileus produces signs and symptoms of small-bowel obstruction —nausea, vomiting, abdominal distention, and absent bowel sounds if the bowel is completely obstructed. Its most telling sign is intermittent recurrence of colicky pain over several days.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Cholelithiasis:
Cholelithiasis - signs & symptoms
(The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult)
- Silent gallstones present coincidentally in infancy and preschool-age children.
- Classic symptoms of right upper quadrant (RUQ) pain (Murphy sign) and vomiting exist only in older children and adolescents.
- Younger children present with nonspecific symptoms, including obstructive jaundice.
- Fever is unusual in all age groups and often indicates the development of rare complications in children:
- Cholecystitis
- Choledocholithiasis
- Cholangitis
- Gallbladder perforation:
- Pancreatitis develops in 8% of patients with gallstones and is the most common complication.
- Pancreatitis is more common in obese adolescents who have undergone rapid weight reduction, as reported in the adult population.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult, 2008
Article Excerpts About Symptoms of Gallstones:
Gallstones: NIDDK (Excerpt)
Symptoms of gallstones are often called a
gallstone "attack" because they occur suddenly. A typical attack can cause
- Steady, severe pain in the upper abdomen that increases rapidly and
lasts from 30 minutes to several hours.
- Pain in the back between the shoulder blades.
- Pain under the right shoulder.
- Nausea or vomiting.
Gallstone attacks often follow fatty meals, and they may occur during
the night. Other gallstone symptoms include
- Abdominal bloating.
- Recurring intolerance of fatty foods.
- Colic.
- Belching.
- Gas.
- Indigestion.
People who also have the following symptoms should see a doctor right
away:
- Sweating.
- Chills.
- Low-grade fever.
- Yellowish color of the skin or whites of the eyes.
- Clay-colored stools.
Many people with gallstones have no symptoms. These patients are said
to be asymptomatic, and these stones are called "silent stones." They do
not interfere in gallbladder, liver, or pancreas function and do not need
treatment.
(Source: excerpt from Gallstones: NIDDK)
Dieting and Gallstones: NIDDK (Excerpt)
However, most people with
gallstones don't know they have them and experience no symptoms. Painless
gallstones are called silent gallstones. For an unfortunate
minority, however, gallstones can cause painful attacks. Painful
gallstones are called symptomatic gallstones, because they cause
symptoms. In rare cases gallstones can cause life-threatening
complications. (Source: excerpt from Dieting and Gallstones: NIDDK)
Gallstones: NWHIC (Excerpt)
Most people with gallstones do not have symptoms. They have what are
called silent stones. Studies show that most people with silent stones
remain symptom free for years and require no treatment. Silent stones
usually are detected during a routine medical checkup or examination for
another illness. (Source: excerpt from Gallstones: NWHIC)
Gallstones: NWHIC (Excerpt)
A gallstone attack usually is marked by a steady, severe pain in the
upper abdomen. Attacks may last only 20 or 30 minutes but more often they
last for one to several hours. A gallstone attack may also cause pain in
the back between the shoulder blades or in the right shoulder and may
cause nausea or vomiting. Attacks may be separated by weeks, months, or
even years. Once a true attack occurs, subsequent attacks are much more
likely. (Source: excerpt from Gallstones: NWHIC)
Gallstones as a Cause of Symptoms or Medical Conditions
When considering symptoms of Gallstones, it is also important to consider Gallstones as a possible cause of other medical conditions.
The Disease Database lists the following medical conditions that Gallstones may cause:
- (Source - Diseases Database)
Gallstones as a symptom:
For a more detailed analysis of Gallstones as a symptom, including causes, drug side effect causes, and drug interaction causes, please see our Symptom Center information for Gallstones.
Medical articles and books on symptoms:
These general reference articles may be of interest
in relation to medical signs and symptoms of disease in general:
Full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis
About signs and symptoms of Gallstones:
The symptom information on this page
attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Gallstones.
This signs and symptoms information for Gallstones has been gathered from various sources,
may not be fully accurate,
and may not be the full list of Gallstones signs or Gallstones symptoms.
Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Gallstones may vary on an individual basis for each patient.
Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they
are indeed Gallstones symptoms.
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