Pancreatitis: symptoms, causes and how to treat it

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Definition

What is pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)?

Acute pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is a glandular organ located in the stomach. This organ functions to make pancreatic juices (which contain digestive enzymes) and produce several hormones, including insulin to regulate glucose and glucagon levels.

Just like any other disease, a person can experience inflammation of the pancreas suddenly. This is known as acute pancreatitis. It is also possible that inflammation of the pancreas occurs gradually; from mild to severe and this is known as chronic pancreatitis.

Most people with inflammation of the pancreas recover completely after getting the right treatment. In severe cases, pancreatitis can cause bleeding into the gland, serious tissue damage, infection, and cyst formation.

Severe inflammation of the pancreas can also harm other vital organs such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys.

How common is this disease?

Pancreatitis is a disease that can affect any age group. However, it most often occurs in middle-aged men aged over 40 years. More precisely, in adults who consume too much alcohol in the long term and have gallstones.

Even so, certain medical conditions such as autoimmune diseases, infections, trauma, metabolic disorders, and surgery can also increase a person's risk of developing acute pancreatitis. Always consult your doctor for more information.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of pancreatitis?

The typical symptom of pancreatitis is the appearance of abdominal pain that lasts for several days and is often severe. The pain can radiate to the chest and back.

The pain can also appear suddenly, and feel quite heavy but for a moment it feels light. Generally, the pain will be more pronounced when eating.

Apart from abdominal pain, there are other accompanying symptoms that you need to pay attention to. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, acute pancreatitis will cause symptoms, including:

• Fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fast heart rate
• Swollen or tender stomach

People with acute pancreatitis usually look and feel very sick and need to see a doctor immediately. Just like acute inflammation of the pancreas, chronic conditions also experience similar abdominal pain. Other symptoms of inflammation of the pancreas that may include:

• Diarrhea
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stool smells bad, tends to be hard, solid, and fatty
• Weight loss drastically because the body is unable to absorb fat properly (malabsorption)
• The excreted stool tends to be hard, solid, foul-smelling, and fatty or foamy
• Jaundice (jaundice)
• Distended stomach
• Frequent fever
• Loss of appetite

In some cases of chronic inflammation of the pancreas, it does not cause significant symptoms until the disease has caused complications.

There may be signs and symptoms of inflammation of the pancreas not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

If you have any of the signs or symptoms listed above or have any questions, please consult your doctor. Everyone's body is different. Always consult a doctor to treat your health condition.

Cause

What causes pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis occurs when enzymes are activated while they are still in the pancreas. Supposedly, enzymes are activated when distributed to other parts of the body that need them. As a result, the cells in the pancreas become inflamed.

This repeated inflammation that occurs in the pancreas, causes damage to the pancreas. Scar tissue can form in the pancreas, causing loss of function. A poorly functioning pancreas can lead to digestive problems and diabetes.

Various things that commonly cause pancreatitis are:

• Gallstones
• Excessive alcohol use
• Genetic disorders of the pancreas
• Use of drugs, such as tetracycline, sulfasalazine, or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
• There is trauma after surgery on the pancreas
• Blockage or cancer cells in the pancreas
• High cholesterol and calcium levels in the blood
• The presence of a viral or parasitic infection

Of all the causes, the most commonly known is having gallstone disease. Gallstones can get stuck in the pancreatic duct, causing blockage and causing inflammation.

However, in some cases, the cause of inflammation of the pancreas may not be known. This condition is known as idiopathic pancreatitis.

Risk factors

What increases my risk for this disease?

There are various things that make a person more susceptible to pancreatitis, including:

• Alcoholic addict
• Heavy smoker
• Have a family member have had pancreatitis infection
• High levels of fat in the blood
• Have several other diseases, such as gallstone disease and cystic fibrosis
• Structural problems with the pancreas or bile duct, especially in cases where the pancreas has ruptured and has two bile ducts
• Drug use, including estrogen therapy and some antibiotics
• Have excessive body weight (obesity)

Complications

What are the complications of pancreatitis?

Inflammation of the pancreas that is not treated properly can lead to complications. Some of the complications of pancreatitis include:

Pseudocyst

Inflammation of acute pancreatitis can cause fluid and other substances to build up and form cysts. If they get bigger in size, the pseudocyst can rupture, causing bleeding and infection.

Infection

Untreated pancreatitis is prone to infection. This complication requires intensive care, namely surgical removal of the infected tissue.

Kidney failure

Inflammation of the pancreas can affect kidney health and cause kidney failure. If it is severe, kidney failure requires regular dialysis treatment.

Breathing problems

Pancreatitis can cause chemical changes in the body related to lung function. In some cases, inflammation of the pancreas causes the oxygen level in the blood to drop to dangerous levels.

Diabetes

The pancreas that becomes inflamed over time can be damaged. This cell damage can interfere with insulin production, causing diabetes.

Malnutrition

The pancreas is one of the digestive organs. If this organ has problems, the digestive process can be disturbed.

In people with pancreatitis, the pancreas produces fewer enzymes that are used to break down and digest nutrients from food. As a result, nutritional deficiencies can occur and lead to weight loss. Even if the portion of the meal is increased, body weight will still decrease.

Pancreatic cancer

The presence of inflammation in the pancreas in time can trigger the cells around it to become abnormal. This can increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

Medicines & Medicines

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are the usual tests for this disease?

To be able to diagnose this disease, the doctor will perform a medical history or medical examination, as well as blood tests and urine tests. The doctor also may perform a tomography (CT) or ultrasound of the abdominal area.

Blood tests are done to check the levels of amylase and lipase (digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas), amylase or lipase can be added when the pancreas is inflamed.

Levels of calcium, magnesium, salt, potassium, and bicarbonate in the blood can change. The concentration of sugar and fat (lipids) in the blood can also be increased. After the pancreas recovers, these levels will usually return to normal.

What are my treatment options for acute pancreatitis?

Treatment of pancreatitis generally takes the form of supportive therapy during inpatient care. Your doctor can administer intravenous fluids and replace electrolytes such as potassium and calcium.

If the patient cannot control the disease, a feeding tube will be temporarily placed. This is useful for connecting the nose to the stomach.

Patients with mild pancreatitis cannot eat for 3-4 days but will be treated with an IV and given pain relievers and other drugs to relieve inflammation of the pancreas.

Patients with severe pancreatitis may be on the IV for a longer time. Surgery will be performed if there are signs of infection, cysts, or bleeding.

Pain caused by gallstones can be treated by removing the gall bladder or performing bile duct surgery when there is inflammation of the marrow.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be used to treat pancreatitis?

Here are lifestyle and home remedies that can help you treat pancreatitis while preventing it from recurring:

• Reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption.
• If you smoke, stop smoking.
• Maintain a diet by avoiding fatty foods and high cholesterol. Choose foods that are rich in other nutrients such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and protein.
• Control your weight and exercise routine if possible.
• Drink lots of water so you don't get dehydrated.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.