Hidden in the upper belly, above the stomach, the pancreas is a long, flat gland. Acute pancreatitis is a severe condition in which the pancreas suddenly becomes inflamed. The pancreas produces digestive enzymes and hormones that control how your body processes sugar (glucose).
Most patients with acute pancreatitis recover within a week and don't have any more issues, but severe instances can have life-threatening complications.
Acute pancreatitis is distinct from chronic pancreatitis, in which the pancreas is inflamed over an extended period of time.
Acute pancreatitis' most typical signs and symptoms include: Experiencing extreme abdominal (tummy) discomfort all of a sudden, feeling ill, or having diarrhea.
Learn more about detecting and treating acute pancreatitis, as well as its symptoms.
What Are the Symptoms of Pancreatitis?
Depending on the type you have, your Acute pancreatitis symptoms and signs may change. They may include:
- The upper abdominal pain
- Fever
- Fast heartbeat
- Back Discomfort
- The abdomen feels soft to the touch
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
- Oily, unpleasant stools
What Are the Causes of Pancreatitis?
The enzymes (chemicals) in the pancreas are supposed to attempt to digest the organ when a problem arises with some of them, which is thought to be the cause of acute pancreatitis.
Most frequently, acute pancreatitis is related to:
Due to gallstones
Alcohol use
You can lessen your risk of developing acute pancreatitis by consuming less alcohol and changing your diet to make gallstones less likely.
Other Causes
Among the less typical causes of pancreatitis are:
- Viral infections
- Immune disorder (autoimmune pancreatitis)
- Inherited mutations in genes (hereditary pancreatitis)
- Cystic fibrosis complications
- High triglyceride levels in the blood (hypertriglyceridemia)
- High calcium levels in the blood (hypercalcemia)
- Ischemia (reduced blood supply) (reduced blood supply)
- Cancer
- A pancreatic injury caused by trauma
- Several drugs that cause pancreatic irritation
How Is It Treated?
The goal of acute pancreatitis treatment is to keep the body functioning normally until the inflammation has subsided. This typically entails being admitted to the hospital so that you can get intravenous fluids, as well as painkillers, nutritional support, and oxygen through tubes placed in your nose.
The majority of persons with acute pancreatitis recover within a week and are able to go home after 5 to 10 days. However, in extreme situations, healing takes longer because issues that call for further care may arise.
What are the potential side effects of pancreatitis?
Although complications are rare in most cases of acute pancreatitis, 1 in 5 cases is more serious. It is unclear why some people get severe acute pancreatitis while others do not. Serious consequences, including death, may result from a severe case. Although they manifest more gradually and pose no immediate threat to life, problems are also brought on by chronic pancreatitis. The majority of problems can be treated and controlled.
Acute pancreatitis
Severe acute pancreatitis can lead to the following complications: Infected tissue and necrosis. In one out of every three cases of severe acute pancreatitis, the pancreas becomes so swollen that some of the blood supply is cut off. Necrosis, or tissue death, is brought on by a lack of blood supply in some areas of your pancreas. Floating bacteria love necrotic (dead) tissue for food. Infected bacteria multiply and thrive in these tissues, eventually infecting your bloodstream. It is urgent if you have septicemia, an infection in your bloodstream.
Chronic pancreatitis
Chronic pancreatitis can result from having multiple acute pancreatitis episodes. Pancreatic tissue scarring develops throughout time as a result of ongoing inflammation (fibrosis). Your pancreas' capacity to work as a gland is hampered by fibrosis. The enzymes and hormones your body needs are gradually produced by it less and less, which causes more issues.
Also Read – Immunity Test – Types, Importance, Labs, Test Cost in India
How Is Pancreatitis Diagnosed?
If you display the typical symptoms of pancreatitis, a medical practitioner will do imaging and blood tests to assess your pancreas. A pancreas blood test checks your blood for elevated levels of pancreatic enzymes (lipase and amylase). If levels are at least three times higher than normal, your doctor will suspect pancreatitis. The diagnosis might be supported by a cross-sectional imaging test, such as a CT scan or MRI. Problems including fluid accumulation and pancreatic enlargement can be discovered as a result of these tests.
When to Visit a Doctor?
If your abdomen pain is persistent, call for an appointment with your doctor immediately. If your abdominal discomfort is so intense that you are unable to sit still or find a position that is more comfortable, you should seek immediate medical attention.
Pancreatitis can be treated to improve mild instances, but severe ones might result in potentially fatal consequences.
Agilus Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare Limited
