PANCREATITIS
Inflammation of the pancreas leads to a condition called pancreatitis. Pancreatitis can be acute or chronic.
What are the Types of Pancreatitis?
There are two types of Pancreatitis these are
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Chronic Pancreatitis
About Acute Pancreatitis
Symptoms of Acute Pancreatitis?
Acute pancreatitis can be characterized by
- sudden and severe abdominal pain.
- fever, vomiting, nausea,
- sweating,
- swelling in the abdominal region,
- feeling of fullness due to gas, and
- sometimes jaundice.
Causes of Acute Pancreatitis?
Acute pancreatitis is most often caused by
- excessive intake of alcohol
- gallstones
- genetic factors
- autoimmune problems
- blockage of the pancreatic duct or common bile duct
- other conditions such as cystic fibrosis, and
- certain medications such as oestrogens and corticosteroids.
Who Does Acute Pancreatitis Affect?
Acute pancreatitis affects men more often than women.
How Is Acute Pancreatitis Diagnosed?
Acute pancreatitis is diagnosed by
- various pathology tests that measure the levels of pancreatic enzyme (amylase/lipase), and
- imaging techniques, such as CT scan, MRI and ultrasound, which indicate inflammation of the pancreas.
Treatment for Acute Pancreatitis?
Treatment of acute pancreatitis is directed towards reducing the inflammation and treating the underlying cause of the condition.
Patients usually require hospital admission, where you will be given pain medication and intravenous fluids, and will be closely monitored while they recover from their symptoms.
Your doctor will stop food and fluid through the mouth to limit the activity of the pancreas.
In severe cases, antibiotics may be administered, and rarely, surgery will be performed to remove the infected or damaged part of the pancreas to control sepsis.
Acute Pancreatitis Prevention
After recovering from an attack of pancreatitis, the patient should avoid smoking, abstain from drinking alcohol and eating fatty foods.
About Chronic Pancreatitis?
Chronic pancreatitis is a condition where the inflammation of the pancreas does not heal or improve with time, and leads to permanent damage.
Symptoms of Chronic Pancreatitis?
The most common symptoms include
- abdominal pain,
- continuous weight loss (even with a normal diet),
- diarrhoea,
- nausea and vomiting,
- pale or clay-coloured stools and
- fatty or oily stools.
Causes of Chronic Pancreatitis?
The cause of chronic pancreatitis can be:
- alcohol abuse for many years and
- repeated occurrence of acute pancreatitis.
- genetic factors,
- autoimmune problems,
- blockage of the pancreatic duct or the common bile duct,
- other conditions like cystic fibrosis
- certain medications such as estrogens, corticosteroids and diuretics.
Who Does Chronic Pancreatitis Affect?
The condition is seen more often in men than in women.
How Is Acute Pancreatitis Diagnosed?
Chronic pancreatitis is diagnosed by
- various pathology tests that measure the levels of pancreatic enzyme (amylase/lipase) and
- imaging techniques such as CT scan, ultrasound, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and MRI with MRCP (magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography).
Treatment for Acute Pancreatitis?
Treatment of chronic pancreatitis is directed towards reducing the inflammation and treating the underlying cause of the condition.
You will be required to stay in the hospital where you will be given pain medication and intravenous fluids and you'll be closely monitored while you recover from your symptoms.
Your doctor will stop food and fluid through the mouth to limit the activity of the pancreas. Pancreatic enzymes may be prescribed to digest food better and gain weight.
Blood sugar (glucose) levels are controlled by taking insulin if needed. If a blockage is found, the obstruction is treated, and in severe cases, a part or the entire pancreas will be surgically removed.
