Symptoms and Treatment of Pancreatitis

What is pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is a large gland close to the duodenum and behind the stomach.

Acute pancreatitis is a sudden inflammation of the pancreas that causes severe abdominal pain. It usually resolves itself in a short time with the proper medical treatment.

Most people do not have pain with chronic pancreatitis. For those people that do have pain, the pain is usually severe, however; as the condition worsens, pain often goes away. This is not a good sign as it means the pancreas has probably stopped working.

Pancreatitis occurs in men and women, although men are more likely to have chronic pancreatitis. Children are rarely affected.

What causes pancreatitis?

The most common causes of acute pancreatitis are alcoholism and gallstones. Gallstones block the pancreatic duct, trapping digestive enzymes in the pancreas. Other causes can be abdominal trauma, surgery, elevated triglycerides, infection, trauma and some prescription drugs.

Chronic pancreatitis is most commonly caused by alcoholism and alcohol abuse, but sometimes the cause cannot be determined.

What are the symptoms?

Acute pancreatitis usually begins with pain in the upper abdomen. Mild pain may be experienced after eating, or severe pain can come on suddenly and may radiate to the back and other areas.

Acute pancreatitis symptoms may include:

Severe abdominal pain
Abdominal swelling and tenderness
Nausea
Vomiting
Fever
Rapid Pulse

Chronic pancreatitis symptom can be identical to those of acute pancreatitis and tend to follow one of two patterns. In one pattern, the patient has persistent mid-abdominal pain that varies in intensity. This pattern is more likely caused by a cyst, an inflammatory mass or pancreatic cancer. In the second pattern, a person has intermittent bouts of pain, with symptoms similar to those of mild or moderate pancreatitis. The pain can last for hours or days.

Symptoms of chronic pancreatitis:

Upper abdominal pain
Back pain
Nausea
Vomiting
Weight Loss
Pale, Fatty Stools
Fever
Sweating