Gallstones are hard masses formed from bile (a digestive juice produced by the liver) that occur in the gallbladder or bile ducts (tubes that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder and intestines). Gallstones are more common in women, those who are overweight, people who eat a high-fat diet, those over about the age of 40, and people with certain disorders, such as cirrhosis or Crohn’s disease.
Gallstones take years to form and often cause no symptoms unless they become lodged in the cystic or common bile duct. If this happens, it can cause an attack of biliary colic: sudden, severe upper abdominal pain, often with nausea and vomiting. Less commonly, there may be also be fever, persistent pain, jaundice , and diarrhea.
Occasionally, a gallstone may lead to infection and inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis). Gallstones that cause no symptoms do not usually need treatment. Those that cause only mild or infrequent symptoms may be treated with pain relievers and a diet that is low in fat.
If symptoms are severe or occur frequently, surgical removal of the gallbladder is usually recommended.