Quick read
Key points
- 1
Acute cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder, most commonly caused by a gallstone blocking the tube that allows bile to drain from the gallbladder. It typically causes sudden, severe pain in the upper right abdomen, which can spread to the back or shoulder, often alongside fever and nausea.
- 2
Topic-specific prevention and risk reduction will be added during the article-specific evidence audit.
- 3
Sudden, severe pain in the upper right abdomen
01 · Know
What is Acute Cholecystitis?
Acute cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder, most commonly caused by a gallstone blocking the tube that allows bile to drain from the gallbladder. It typically causes sudden, severe pain in the upper right abdomen, which can spread to the back or shoulder, often alongside fever and nausea.
It usually requires hospital treatment, including antibiotics and, in many cases, surgical removal of the gallbladder, either during the same admission or scheduled shortly afterward once the inflammation has settled.
02 · Understand
Clinical context
Gallbladder removal is usually curative
Since the gallbladder isn't essential for digestion, its surgical removal (cholecystectomy) typically resolves cholecystitis completely and prevents future episodes.
03 · Act
When to Seek Urgent Care
- 1Sudden, severe pain in the upper right abdomen
- 2Pain that doesn't ease and is accompanied by fever
- 3Yellowing of the skin or eyes
- 4Persistent nausea or vomiting alongside abdominal pain
04 · Prevent & manage
Practical steps
This Requires Hospital Assessment and Treatment
Acute cholecystitis needs prompt medical assessment and usually hospital admission for antibiotics and monitoring — this isn't a condition to manage at home.
- 1Seek prompt medical assessment for suspected symptoms.Early treatment reduces the risk of complications like infection spreading or the gallbladder rupturing.
- 2Follow post-surgical advice closely if surgery is recommended.Recovery from gallbladder removal is usually straightforward, especially with keyhole surgery.
- 3Attend all follow-up appointments.These check your recovery and address any ongoing digestive adjustments.
- 4Ask about dietary adjustments during recovery.Some people find a lower-fat diet more comfortable in the weeks after gallbladder surgery.
Medical information notice
Health education, not individual medical advice
BarnMD Health Library provides general health education for public health literacy. Reading this article does not establish a doctor-patient relationship and this information is not a diagnosis, prescription, or personalised treatment plan. If you have symptoms or concerns about your health, seek appropriate advice from a qualified healthcare professional. If you develop emergency warning signs, seek urgent or emergency medical attention.
BarnMD Bottom Line
Acute cholecystitis is a serious but very treatable condition, and gallbladder removal typically resolves it completely.
Sudden, severe upper abdominal pain with fever needs prompt medical assessment, not a wait-and-see approach.