Signs and symptoms of cholecystitis may include:

• Severe pain in your upper right or center abdomen
• Pain that spreads to your right shoulder or back
• Tenderness over your abdomen when it's touched
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever

Cholecystitis signs and symptoms often occur after a meal, particularly a large or fatty one.

Cholecystitis occurs when your gallbladder becomes inflamed. Gallbladder inflammation can be caused by:

• Gallstones. Most often, cholecystitis is the result of hard particles that develop in your gallbladder (gallstones). Gallstones can block the tube (cystic duct) through which bile flows when it leaves the gallbladder. Bile builds up, causing inflammation.
• Tumor. A tumor may prevent bile from draining out of your gallbladder properly, causing bile buildup that can lead to cholecystitis.
• Bile duct blockage. Kinking or scarring of the bile ducts can cause blockages that lead to cholecystitis.
• Infection. AIDS and certain viral infections can trigger gallbladder inflammation.
• Blood vessel problems. A very severe illness can damage blood vessels and decrease blood flow to the gallbladder, leading to cholecystitis.

Having gallstones is the main risk factor for developing cholecystitis.

Cholecystitis can lead to a number of serious complications, including:

• Infection within the gallbladder. If bile builds up within your gallbladder, causing cholecystitis, the bile may become infected.
• Death of gallbladder tissue. Untreated cholecystitis can cause tissue in the gallbladder to die (gangrene). It's the most common complication, especially among older people, those who wait to get treatment, and those with diabetes. This can lead to a tear in the gallbladder, or it may cause your gallbladder to burst.
• Torn gallbladder. A tear (perforation) in your gallbladder may result from gallbladder swelling, infection or death of tissue.