Bacterial Cholangitis: Symptoms, Complaints, Signs

The following symptoms and complaints may indicate bacterial cholangitis:

Pathognomonic (indicative of disease).

• Charcot triad II – in 60-70% of cases – simultaneous presence of:
  • Biliary colic (colicky pain in the right upper abdomen) – Colic pain is characterized by a waxing and waning, intermittent, spasmodic (convulsive) course of pain. The patient writhes in pain.
  • Fever (with chills).
  • Icterus (jaundice)

Furthermore, the following accompanying symptoms may occur:

• Emesis (vomiting)
• Decolorization of the stool (= acholic stool: white to grayish-white stool, poorly formed/choppy or choppy stool) – due to lack of bile excretion into the intestine because of a disturbance in the outflow of bile (cholestasis).
• Nausea (nausea)