Charcot's triad consists of fever, jaundice, and right upper quadrant pain, which are classic clinical signs indicating acute cholangitis. This triad is crucial for early recognition of biliary tract infection caused by an obstructed common bile duct. Identifying Charcot’s triad prompts urgent medical and often surgical intervention to prevent progression to severe sepsis or biliary sepsis with high morbidity. Understanding this triad aids in timely diagnosis and improves patient outcomes in hepatobiliary disease management.

Reference: Schwartz's Principles of Surgery, 11th Edition.