Cholangitis is a condition in which inflammation of the bile ducts occurs, the channel that circulates bile from the liver to the intestine and gallbladder. Inflammation can cause swelling which ultimately disrupts the circulation system of bile, the fluid needed by the body to help the digestive process. Disrupted bile circulation system can cause symptoms such as fever, nausea, and abdominal pain.
Treatment of cholangitis will be better done immediately. Cholangitis that is ignored and does not get proper treatment can cause complications, such as kidney failure and even death.
Symptoms of Cholangitis
Symptoms that can be felt by cholangitis patients are abdominal pain. Pain itself has character and can appear in different locations. Pain that arises usually will feel like cramping or stabbing.
Apart from pain, people with cholangitis can also feel other symptoms, such as:
- Fever.
- Nausea.
- Gag.
- Jaundice (jaundice).
Causes of Cholangitis
Inflammation of the bile ducts experienced by people with cholangitis can be caused by many factors, but the most frequent is bacterial infection.
Some other factors that can cause cholangitis include:
- Blood clots.
- Tumor.
- Parasitic infections.
- Swelling of the pancreas.
- Side effects of medical procedures, such as endoscopy.
- Infection of the blood (bacteremia).
A person will be at higher risk of suffering from cholangitis if they are over 55 years of age or have a history of gallstones.
Cholangitis diagnosis
Diagnosis begins with examination of symptoms, medical history, and overall condition of the patient. After that, a series of tests can be done to ascertain the condition. Some of the tests used include:
- Blood test.
- Ultrasonography (USG).
- MRI or CT scan.
In addition to the three tests above, there are also other methods commonly used to diagnose cholangitis, namely endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTCA). ERCP is a combination of X-ray imaging procedures with endoscopy, and PTCA is X-ray imaging that is assisted by injecting a contrast dye directly into the bile duct.
Cholangitis Treatment
Handling of cholangitis in each person is different, according to the underlying cause. If cholangitis is caused by a bacterial infection, treatment can be done by giving antibiotics. Some antibiotics commonly used to treat cholangitis include:
- Ampicillin.
- Piperasilin.
- Metronidazole.
- Quinolone, such as cipofloxacin and levofloxacin.
Cholangitis complications
Cholangitis that does not get proper treatment has the potential to cause other diseases and even death.
Some complications that can occur in people with cholangitis include:
- Liver abscess.
- Recurrence of cholangitis and lasts a long time.
- Kidney failure.
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