Gallbladder, Gallstones, and Diseases of the Gallbladder in Children

Practice Gap

Pediatric providers should have a heightened awareness of gallbladder diseases in children, which have increased in incidence during the past few decades.

Objectives

After completing this review, readers should be able to:

1. Understand gallbladder issues in children.

2. Understand what pediatric population is at increased risk for cholelithiasis.

3. Be able to recognize the signs and symptoms associated with gallstone disease in children.

4. Know what treatments are available and when to refer for surgery.

5. Understand the concepts associated with other diseases of the gallbladder.

Abstract

There is an increased incidence of gallstones in the pediatric population, most likely due to the rise of childhood obesity. There needs to be increased awareness of gallstones in this population and of other risk factors associated with gallstone formation in children.

Diseases of the gallbladder have been known to occur since antiquity, with models of the gallbladder and biliary tree dating back thousands of years. In fact, gallstones have been found in mummies from ancient Egypt. Some historians have even postulated that Alexander the Great died of an acute episode of cholecystitis. Although this organ has been described for centuries in historical medical accounts, it has only been in the past 100 years that the function and diseases of the gallbladder have been better recognized. The incidence of these disorders is relatively uncommon in children compared with adults. However, during the past several decades there has been increased recognition of diseases of the gallbladder, including gallstones, in the pediatric population. This may stem from the abrupt rise in childhood obesity, which carries an increased risk of gallstone formation. Therefore, there needs to be awareness among pediatric providers about gallbladder disease …