Cholangitis
Cholangitis is an infection of the bile ducts, often caused by a blockage. It can quickly become life-threatening.
About cholangitis
Cholangitis is an infection of the bile ducts, often caused by a blockage. It can quickly become life-threatening.
What can cause it?
Cholangitis is infection in the bile ducts, usually when a gallstone, narrowing, or tumor blocks bile drainage.
Bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause sepsis quickly.
What a patient may notice
Symptoms vary from person to person. Possible signs may include:
- Fever or chills
- Right upper abdominal pain
- Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, confusion, or low blood pressure
How clinicians find the cause
Emergency testing includes blood count, liver tests, blood cultures, and imaging such as ultrasound, CT, or MRCP. ERCP may both confirm and relieve the blockage.
Treatment and next steps
- 1
Hospital treatment includes IV fluids and antibiotics.
- 2
Urgent drainage of the blocked bile duct—often by ERCP—is usually required.
- 3
This is not appropriate for home or routine urgent-care treatment.
Supporting recovery
- Go to the emergency department for fever with right upper abdominal pain or jaundice.
- Do not delay for food, home remedies, or leftover antibiotics.
What to expect
The outcome is often good when antibiotics and bile-duct drainage begin quickly. Without prompt treatment, the infection can spread rapidly and become life-threatening. Long-term recovery also depends on correcting the stone, narrowing, tumor, stent problem, or other cause of the blockage.
Possible complications
- Sepsis, dangerously low blood pressure, shock, or failure of multiple organs
- Liver abscess or infection spreading into nearby tissue or the bloodstream
- Recurrent cholangitis when a blockage, narrowing, or stent problem remains
When to Contact a Medical Professional
This condition can be life-threatening. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Do not delay care to visit urgent care.
Go to the emergency department now. Call 911 for confusion, fainting, severe weakness, trouble breathing, or signs of shock.Get emergency help for severe trouble breathing, new chest pressure, fainting, seizure, sudden weakness on one side, uncontrolled bleeding, blue or gray lips, or a person who is difficult to wake.
Ways to lower risk
- Treat known gallstones and bile-duct disease and keep follow-up after prior duct procedures.
- Prevention depends on the cause of blockage.
Trusted health information
This CHS patient-education page uses original wording and links to MedlinePlus for additional information.