10 Signs and Symptoms of Pancreatitis

The pancreas is a glandular organ which is part of the digestive system. Its function is to secrete digestive enzymes which assist in the digestion of food. The pancreas also secretes hormones, such as insulin and glucagon, which are concerned with the regulation of blood glucose levels. The inflammation of the pancreas is called pancreatitis. There are two types of it, acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis can be mild or it can be a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. It starts suddenly and stays for a shorter period of time. Acute pancreatitis can lead to many complications and can involve surrounding organs as well. On the other hand, chronic pancreatitis is a long-term inflammation of the pancreas that is less severe, but it can transform into acute pancreatitis due to various factors. It is very important to identify the symptoms of severe or acute pancreatitis in order to receive timely medical intervention and to avoid complications associated with this condition. Following are the common symptoms that point towards acute pancreatitis. 1 Abdominal pain. It is one of the first and more important symptoms of acute pancreatitis. Abdominal pain is located in the upper part of the abdomen (where the stomach is located) and it can irradiate to the back. It is also intense and increases in intensity after taking a meal. This aggravation is especially associated with fatty meals because the pancreas releases enzymes for the digestion of fats present in meals. This fatty intake puts stress on the organ which further aggravates the pain. This is an important point which indicates underlying pancreatic disease. Fatty meals should be avoided in pancreatitis, acute or chronic 2 Fever. Patients with acute pancreatitis experience severe fever. The temperature of the body is raised in response to ongoing inflammation in the pancreas. During inflammation, chemical compounds are released from the inflamed area that reach the brain. There is a heat regulation center in the brain, and these chemicals act to raise the temperature of body. Fever is a common response to inflammation occurring anywhere in the human body. More symptoms on next page... 3 Nausea. Patients may complain of severe nausea while suffering from acute pancreatitis. Nausea is a symptom of most gastrointestinal disorders. The pancreas is also a part of the gastrointestinal system and hence, its involvement in this disease leads to nausea. 4 Vomiting & Exhaustion. Patients of acute pancreatitis can have multiple episodes of vomiting. This repeated vomiting causes dehydration and exhaustion, and the patient becomes unable to take anything orally leading to further exhaustion. It also causes electrolyte imbalance. 5 Tense & Tender Abdomen. Along with severe abdominal pain, patients may also experience a tense and tender abdomen. The cause of tenderness is the inflamed pancreas. The abdominal muscles become tense in order to guard the underlying organ by acting as a wall to prevent pain. It is a defense mechanism of the body to protect a diseased organ. Upon touching the abdomen, the patient feels pain and the abdomen feels rigid. 6 Rapid Pulse. Another salient symptom of acute pancreatitis is a rapid pulse. A normal pulse rate is between 60-100 beats per minute. Patients of acute pancreatitis may have a pulse rate of over 100. This is due to various inflammatory chemical changes in the body that makes the heart beat faster. 7 Diarrhea & Dehydration. Pancreatic juices, containing digestive enzymes, are necessary to digest food completely, especially the fats. When there is a deficiency of these enzymes, such as in acute pancreatitis, food is not digested properly, and it leads to diarrhea. Moreover, inflammatory response can involve a major portion of the body, especially the digestive tract, and that is another reason for diarrhea. This makes the patient further dehydrated and exhausted. 8 Indigestion. Due to the deficiency or absence of digestive enzymes, such as lipase, food is not digested completely which leads to indigestion. Generally, this symptom is not very prominent because of the intense pain associated with acute pancreatitis as mentioned earlier. 9 Jaundice. Acute pancreatitis is often associated with jaundice as well. It happens in the presence of some kind of obstruction affecting both the liver and pancreas. The obstruction is usually present in the duct system, and it is in the form of a stricture or stone. It presents with yellow skin and sclera and signifies the involvement of the liver as well. 10 Patients Curl in Pain. When the patient of acute pancreatitis feels severe pain, they bend forward or curl into a ball. It reduces the severity of pain. Patients also describe that the pain becomes worse when lying flat on their back. This is because bending forward or curling releases the stress that is present on the pancreas. All of these are alarming symptoms and should not be ignored. In chronic pancreatitis, patients experience pain radiating to the back, nausea, vomiting, bulky stools, weight loss, distended abdomen and diabetes. Chronic pancreatitis can change into acute pancreatitis in the presence of a few risk factors. This is why it is important to consult your doctor as soon as you experience these symptoms. Timely intervention is absolutely necessary to avoid complications like abscess formation, cyst formation and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Patients who have gallstones, fibrosis or are alcoholic should be especially careful as they are at high risk of further complications.

9 Jaundice

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