Over the past few decades, the number of patients with pancreatitis has grown markedly and increases significantly. And if earlier patients with such diseases were aged - after 50 years, today this bar has decreased and is 39 years old. Both women and men are ill. But more often it is the alcoholic variant of pancreatitis that is found.
From itself, the disease is an inflammatory process that is localized directly in the pancreas. It is constantly progressing and exacerbating the situation. Often, the chronic course of pancreatitis continues, even if the causes of its occurrence have been eliminated. The fact is that the organ itself begins to be replaced by a special tissue that cannot fully fulfill all the assigned functions.
Causes
Most often, pancreatitis becomes a consequence of excessive alcohol consumption, as well as gallstone disease. There are a number of other reasons that lead to this inflammatory disease:
- Problems with the duodenum.
- The use of drugs with a toxic composition.
- Injuries of various kinds.
- Infections (hepatitis, mumps).
- Diabetes.
- Intoxication of the body with mercury, lead or arsenic.
- Hereditary predisposition.
Pancreatitis Signs
The most characteristic symptom of the disease is the occurrence of pain. Most patients complain of pain that persists for a very long time. It appears somewhere in the stomach and begins to spread upward.
Such painful signs of pancreatitis have the ability to appear against the background of the use of such products:
- fatty and fried foods;
- smoked food;
- carbonated drinks;
- alcohol.
About 6 hours after eating such food, pain appears. It can hold for several hours, and sometimes does not even stop for a couple of days. Especially long pain continues after large doses of alcohol. Rarely, pain can be expected shortly after eating. However, this also happens.
Other signs of pancreatitis are the lack of any appetite, severe nausea, and sometimes even vomiting, which does not bring relief to the body. Excessive burping, bloating, and rumbling in the abdomen may occur . With an exacerbation of pancreatitis, loose stools also appear. At the same time, the patient loses weight.
Pain in some patients may be absent. However, this does not mean that everything is so smooth. On the contrary, this sometimes suggests that the disease is progressing significantly. Calcifications appear in the body, and then damage to the pancreas develops.
Complications
Not detected pancreatitis in time can cause the development of many serious diseases. First, pancreas infections appear, ulcers and bleeding form. Often manifested erosion of the esophagus. In some patients, so-called fistulas form.
The prolonged course of pancreatitis leads to the fact that the pancreas changes its shape and prevents the passage of food through the duodenum. Then you will definitely need surgical help.
Some patients with pancreatitis acquire even nervous and mental disorders. Among them are problems with memory, thinking, and even intelligence.
Diagnostics
If signs of pancreatitis appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. Only he will help establish an accurate diagnosis by prescribing special tests and procedures. Before you understand what complex of therapeutic measures is required, the following diagnostic methods for pancreatitis are used :
- blood test (biochemical and immunological);
- coprogram;
- fecal analysis ;
- Ultrasound
- tomography;
- fibrocolonoscopy.
How to cure pancreatitis?
Based on the signs of pancreatitis and the severity of the disease, the doctor prescribes either therapeutic treatment or surgery. A special diet is prescribed. And also diseases that accompany pancreatitis are cured.
Drug treatment is prescribed with an eye on the patient's condition. Be sure to prescribe antibacterial agents, prebiotics, antispasmodics, vitamins and immunomodulators.