The gallbladder, located in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen and just below the liver, stores bile produced by the liver. The bile helps in digestion. As bile excretes from the gallbladder, it travels through the common bile duct. At times gallstones form in the gallbladder and cause an inflammation, called cholecystitis. The inflammation causes the bile to trap inside the gallbladder and may lead to an infection. Recognizing the symptoms associated with a gallbladder infection is important to receive treatment and prevent a rupture of the organ.
Pain
An infection involving the gallbladder causes pain for the affected individual. This pain occurs in the upper-right section of the abdomen, where the gallbladder sits. The pain is intense and sharp, and it occurs suddenly. The pain may become worse when taking deep breaths and may spread to the right shoulder blade, according to The Journal of American Medical Association. The pain will not usually go away until treatment begins.
Gastrointestinal Distress
Gallbladder infection may cause gastrointestinal distress. Some symptoms of this distress include nausea and vomiting. Individuals may also experience abdominal bloating and distension. The condition may also cause a feeling of fullness in the stomach, according to the Mayo Clinic. These symptoms may occur more often after eating a fatty meal.
Clay-Colored Stool
The bile in stool helps give it the normal brown color. When the gallbladder has an infection, the bile may stay in the gallbladder and not move into the intestines. The lack of bile leaves stool pale or clay-colored. This lack of color in the stool is not harmful, but it may be a cause of concern for the affected individual.
Fever
Infections in the body trigger a fever, which is the body's natural way to help fight off the infection. An infected gallbladder causes a low-grade fever that begins to rise. An increase in fever over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit indicates a need for medical evaluation when accompanied by other symptoms of an infected gallbladder. Chills may accompany the fever.
Jaundice
One function of the liver is to break down old red blood cells. Bilirubin is produced after releasing iron from the red blood cells as they breakdown. The liver excretes the bilirubin into the small intestine. An infection in the gallbladder may block the liver's ability to excrete the bilirubin. The substance begins to build in the blood and causes jaundice symptoms. With jaundice, the skin and the white portion of the eyes begin to turn yellow.
