Patient's question:
I am 38 years old. Recently, I feel that my liver is very tired. I haven't had a good appetite, and at night, I always feel a sharp pain in my stomach. I went to the nearby hospital for a check-up and was told it was liver disease. They advised me to get an injection. Could you please explain the difference between hepatitis and cholecystitis?Doctor's answer:
Hepatitis is primarily the destruction of liver cells, and the damage tends to recur easily, manifesting as elevated transaminases or liver pain. Cholecystitis is mainly considered to be caused by gallstones or gallbladder polyps, in addition to many bacterial infections leading to inflammation of the gallbladder. It can be characterized by an increased roughness on the surface of the gallbladder and thickening of the gallbladder wall. Generally, hepatitis requires medications to reduce liver function and transaminase levels, while cholecystitis is primarily treated with anti-inflammatory and bile-expelling medications or dissolution of cholesterol crystals.