What Are Risk Factors for Cholelithiasis?

Discussion Bile is produced by the liver to aid absorption of fat soluble vitamins and lipids from the gastrointestinal tract and to transport bilirubin, cholesterol and other substances to the gastrointestinal tract. Bile is the main form of cholesterol excretion. Gallstones or cholelithiasis form when the balance of substances within the hepatobiliary tract favors supersaturation with crystal formation and gallstone formation. It is a dynamic state of affairs as gallstones can form and also have a high rate of resorption of up to 50%. Gallstones 3 mm are called gallstones. Gallstones, while not as common as adult population (15-20%), do occur in the pediatric population. A prevalence rate of 0.13-0.22% is often quoted. The prevalence increases up to 1.9% in a study from the Netherlands that used ultrasound screening. Infants and adolescents have the highest risk creating a bimodal distribution. Patients can be asymptomatic (~33% for pediatrics vs 80% for adults) or symptomatic. Those that are symptomatic may not have the classic presentation of emesis, abdominal pain, fever and leukocytosis. Children can present with different problems including nausea and vomiting, jaundice, fatty food intolerance, acholic stools and fever. The abdominal pain may be generalized or more specifically attributable to biliary colic. Murphy’s sign or pain causing inspiration cessation when the gallbladder is palpated is helpful if present but can be difficult to illicit or determine in...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news