Gallstones are categorized into gallbladder stones, extrahepatic bile duct stones, and intrahepatic bile duct stones, and the specific symptoms will vary depending on the type of gallstones.
1. Gallbladder stones: gallbladder stones will cause gallbladder spasm, which will show biliary colic, patients will experience severe pain in the right upper abdomen, pain in paroxysms. And most of the patients will also show symptoms such as fullness, discomfort and acid reflux, so it may be mistaken for gastric disease.
2. Extrahepatic bile duct stones: Extrahepatic bile duct stones will show abdominal pain, chills and high fever, jaundice and so on. Abdominal pain caused by extrahepatic bile duct stones is located in the right upper abdomen and is mostly paroxysmal colic. When the stone is embedded in the common bile duct, it will cause bile duct obstruction, which will lead to the entry of intestinal bacteria into the bile ducts, inducing infection, which will lead to chills and high fever. After the bile duct is obstructed, bile discharge will be blocked and jaundice will occur.
3. Intrahepatic bile duct stones: Most patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones do not have obvious symptoms, but when the patient suffers from cold, flu and other resistance to decline, cholangitis symptoms may appear, such as the right upper abdominal distension and pain, fever and so on.
It is recommended that patients with gallstones go to the hospital as soon as possible for relevant examinations to clarify the type of gallstones and then receive targeted treatment from the doctor.