Conditions affecting the gallbladder don’t usually arise until later in life, but they can develop in children and teens. Treating the condition in younger patients is similar to how doctors would handle an adult patient, but there are some differences that should be addressed by the medical team. Today, we take a closer look at what type of gallbladder conditions can develop in children and teens, and we explain the treatment options.
Gallbladder Disease in Children
Gallbladder disease is a blanket term used to describe a condition that causes the gallbladder to function improperly. Examples of gallbladder disease include gallbladder inflammation, infections, gallstones, duct blockages or the development of polyps. As we noted above, gallstones and other gallbladder conditions are more common in adults, but they can develop in children. There is no known cause as to why gallbladder problems develop in some children, although medical experts have pinpointed some risk factors that could increase your risk for gallstones, including:
- Being overweight
- Having a family history of gallbladder issues
- Taking certain medications
- Having certain inherited blood disorders, like spherocytosis
The most common symptoms of a problem with a child’s gallbladder is pain in the upper belly area. The pain often worsens and then fades away after anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours. A child may have difficulty pinpointing the exact location of the pain, and there’s a chance it could feel like pain moves from one area to another. Pain can be sharp, cramp-like or dull, and flare-ups tend to occur after eating a meal, especially if the food is greasy or fatty. Besides pain, symptoms like nausea, fever or vomiting may also be present.
Diagnosing and Treating Pediatric Gallbladder Disease
If your doctor suspects that your child may be dealing with a gallbladder condition, they’ll likely conduct an imaging test like an ultrasound, which can relay a picture of the gallbladder to a video monitor. The doctor can then look for any abnormalities or blockages. A doctor may also order a blood test to look for any signs of an infection.
If imaging tests suggest your child is dealing with blockages or gallstones, your doctor may recommend removing the organ. Since it is non-essential, gallbladder removal is a very routine surgery that completely removes the problem and eliminates the possibility that similar problems could develop in the future. Your child will be able to eat normally and continue everyday activities after they’ve recovered from the operation.
The procedure to remove a gallbladder is called a cholecystectomy, and we dive deeper into specifics on this page. Basically, your child will be given anesthesia and will be asleep during the operation. Your surgeon will then make a few small incisions on your child’s belly in order to remove the gallbladder with a minimally invasive technique. The gallbladder is removed from its attachment to the liver, and the liver is attached to the small intestine, so that bile flows directly from the liver to the intestine instead of being stored in the gallbladder.
Your child will typically stay overnight in the hospital for a day after minimally invasive gallbladder surgery, or between 2-5 days if they had the more invasive open operation. Activity will be limited for a little bit while they recover, and most kids are back to school a week after the operation. Physical activity and return to athletics is usually permitted after about two weeks, but listen to your surgeon’s instructions.
