Pancreatitis is an inflammatory process of the pancreas associated with a violation of its basic functions. Quite often there is a secondary development of the disease, provoked by damage to the liver, stomach, bile ducts and after surgery.
Two forms of the disease are distinguished - acute and chronic. Let's look at the types of pancreatitis.
Chronic pancreatitis
This disease is a progressive inflammation lasting more than 6 months.
What causes pancreatitis?
The main cause of pancreatitis is alcohol abuse. This phenomenon occurs in 60% of sick people. The second reason for the development of the disease is inflammation of the gallbladder (found in 40% of sick people). The next cause is a disease of the duodenum. Well, the smallest group includes - various injuries, infections, including hepatitis B and C, taking toxic drugs, exceeding the permissible level of fats in the blood and the presence of diabetes mellitus.
Symptoms of chronic pancreatitis :
- Sudden pain. Pain can be of varying intensity, constant or paroxysmal. Quite often, it is localized in the abdomen, and can give into the chest. Exacerbation of seizures causes fatty foods, nervous tension and alcohol.
- Bloating nausea or vomiting, constipation or diarrhea.
- In the period of exacerbation of the disease, an increase in temperature is observed.
The course of the disease has a protracted nature and periods of remission and exacerbation. Pancreatitis, the symptoms of which we have already examined, has a progressive process. Inflammation can lead to digestive upsets, intestinal upsets, and weight loss. In some cases, against the background of the disease, diabetes develops.
An abscess, cyst, pancreatic cancer, damage to the liver and biliary tract, diabetes mellitus and death from pancreatitis occur as a result of complications of the disease.
Diagnosis and treatment
Chronic pancreatitis, the symptoms of which cannot give the doctor a definite answer, is diagnosed using instrumental and laboratory methods that allow you to assess the patient's condition.
During an exacerbation of the patient, they are treated under stationary conditions with drugs. Without exacerbation, people suffering from a disease are prescribed a special, pancreatic diet. It is forbidden to use: alcohol, carbohydrate and fatty foods. In cases of ineffective treatment, they resort to surgery.
Acute pancreatitis
A disease caused by allergies, vascular disorders, trauma, intoxication, impaired outflow of pancreatic secretion.
At the heart of this disease is "self-digestion" by pancreatic tissue enzymes. The activation of this process occurs as a result of a failure that occurred at the intracellular level. As a result, edemas are formed, the organ is modified and its tissue melts.
Symptoms of the disease:
- Pain in the abdomen that occurs after ingestion of alcohol and fatty foods. Usually the pain is girdle-like and extending to the left shoulder blade.
- Nausea or vomiting, constipation or diarrhea.
- The presence of symptoms of intoxication.
Acute pancreatitis, the symptoms of which are quite serious, can either end in recovery, or take on a chronic character.
Severe manifestations of the disease are - shock, gastric bleeding, splenic vein thrombosis.
Treatment of acute pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis, the symptoms of which we examined, is treated strictly in a hospital setting. After a full examination and confirmation of the diagnosis, the patient is prescribed a special diet with the use of drugs. In case there is an increase in intoxication and other indicators, an emergency operation is performed.
Patients who have had pancreatitis should be registered, as the risk of developing a chronic disease and diabetes is high enough for them.