Questions in the Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Forum have been answered by Dr. Kevin Pho who is board certified in Internal Medicine and by doctors from Henry Ford Health System.

Question Title: Daughter had many gallstones

Forum: The Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Forum
Topic: Gallstones


I have been searching everywhere to find any info on pediatric
gallstones. My 3year 11 month old daughter was just recently dx with
gallstones (many) and had her gallbladder removed. She has been
a very well kid until she started complaining of servere pain in her tummy. Took her to the Doctor right away because of non stop crying. White blood count came back a little high and with the
pain, fever the Doctor admitted her. Did ultrasound the next day and that showed there were many gallstones with a slight acute gallbladder.
We were transfered to a childrens hosptial and the next thing I knew she was having it removed. I feel so lost now because we are home and no one to talk to. Her Peds Doctor is going to be running test on her to see if there is a cause. What might have cause them ( she is not anemic) ? They just keep telling me its rare for a child this young to have them. She has always been a gaggy kid (gags while eating for no reason). Could this have been her problem all these years? What is the chances that she was born with them? I would love to have more info on this and the causes. It fustrating to me because I feel the need to talk to others that have kids that had this. We have another daughter who was dx with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia in 95, is there any relationship to this? Could we have gene problems?
Is there anything I should be watching for now that the gallbladder is removed as far as complication of not having a gallbladder? Her surgeon said no special diet now but others
have said are you sure? Sorry about all the questions I just feel I need to find info, I need to read all I can on Ped. gallstones.
This is what I did for my daughters cancer and it seems impossible with the gallstones in a small child. There is nothing. Any info you could give me would be much appreciated.
She is seeing her peds to start testing next week and I want to
be a little knowlegable when I get there so I know what he is
talking about. Thankyou

____
Dear Emma,
In adults gallstones are usually the result of excessive cholesterol in the bile. IN children, the gallstones may be related to rapid breakdown of red blood cells causing pigment stones. A second explanation for stones in a young child is infection of the bile. I suggest that you ask your pediatic surgeon for the information regarding the analysis of the stone.

The GI forum no longer has the services of a pediatric gastroenterologist. I suggest that you repost your e-mail to the Maternal-Child forum.

This information is provided for educational purposes only. Always consult your personal physician for specific medical issues,

HFHSM.D.-rf
*keywords; gallstones, pediatrics
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