Can cholecystitis cause belching?

In general, whether cholecystitis causes belching depends on the type of condition. Belching is commonly associated with chronic cholecystitis, whereas it is less frequently a primary symptom in acute cholecystitis. If related symptoms occur, they should be evaluated comprehensively along with other clinical manifestations. The detailed analysis is as follows:

In patients with chronic cholecystitis, long-term impairment of gallbladder function leads to abnormal bile secretion and excretion, which affects food digestion—particularly reducing the ability to digest fatty foods. Food remains in the gastrointestinal tract for prolonged periods, making it prone to fermentation and gas production, resulting in bloating and subsequent belching. These are often accompanied by dull pain in the right upper abdomen, abdominal distension, and loss of appetite.

During an acute cholecystitis attack, the condition develops rapidly, with main symptoms including severe pain in the right upper abdomen, nausea, and vomiting. Some patients may also have fever. Belching is relatively uncommon or not prominent in such cases. This condition is usually caused by obstruction of the cystic duct and bacterial infection leading to acute inflammation. Symptoms primarily focus on abdominal pain and systemic signs of infection, while digestive disturbances are not the main features.

For daily care, it is important to maintain a light diet, avoid high-fat and high-cholesterol foods to reduce the burden on the gallbladder, eat meals regularly, and avoid overeating or prolonged fasting to prevent bile stasis.