Pancreatitis

October 23, 2023

3 min read

Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas that occurs when the body’s digestive juices and enzymes attack the pancreas. You can have pancreatitis as a temporary condition, or it can be a chronic disease that can be life-threatening.

What is pancreatitis?

The pancreas is a flat, elongated gland located behind your stomach on the left side of your upper abdomen. The primary function of the pancreas is to release enzymes that help in digestion. It also produces hormones that control your body’s blood sugar levels.

Pancreatitis can occur suddenly as acute pancreatitis that lasts for several days. You can also develop chronic pancreatitis that occurs over several years.

What are the symptoms of pancreatitis?

The most common symptom of pancreatitis is abdominal pain. Some of the other symptoms are:

Fever
Nausea and vomiting
Rapid heart rate
Shallow, fast breathing
Tenderness when touching the abdomen

Some additional symptoms common in chronic pancreatitis are:

Appetite loss with an unexplained weight loss
Fatty poop that leaves a film of oil in the toilet
Lightheadedness resulting from low blood pressure
Upper abdominal pain that worsens after eating

What are the most common causes of pancreatitis?

The causes of pancreatitis vary based on the type of the condition.

Acute pancreatitis

Commonly, acute pancreatitis can occur because of the presence of gallstones. As the gallstones get stuck in the bile or pancreatic duct, they can cause inflammation in the pancreas, a condition known as gallstone pancreatitis.

People with acute pancreatitis may have severe symptoms and need immediate medical care.

Chronic pancreatitis

You can have chronic pancreatitis if:

You are a heavy alcohol drinker.
You have a genetic disorder in the pancreas.

Other causes for developing the condition include:

High levels of lipids or fats in blood
High calcium levels in the blood
A blockage in the pancreatic duct

People with chronic pancreatitis may not have symptoms unless there is a complication. In some cases, the doctors cannot find any cause of pancreatitis. They are called idiopathic pancreatitis.

Diagnosis of pancreatitis

Your medical practitioner will perform a physical exam and review your symptoms to diagnose the condition. They will ask you whether you have a family history of gallstones or pancreatitis or a personal history of medical conditions that make you likely to get the disease.

Your doctor can also order lab tests for pancreatitis and similar conditions like peptic ulcers or pancreatic cancers.

To diagnose pancreatitis, your doctor may order:

Blood tests: They are done to test for high blood glucose, high lipids, and high levels of digestive enzymes in your pancreas. The test can look for inflammation in the pancreas, gallbladder, or liver and rule out pancreatic cancer.
Imaging tests: Imaging tests like ultrasound, CT scans, and MRI of the abdomen can be done to look for symptoms of pancreatitis.

Treatment of pancreatitis

The treatment of pancreatitis usually requires a hospital stay and may involve:

Stopping food or fluid in the mouth to limit the functioning of the pancreas
Fluid given through a vein or IV
Pain medications

Where the abdominal pain and vomiting do not improve, the stomach contents may be removed by inserting a tube through the mouth or nose. The tube can stay for a few days to 1 or 2 weeks.

Sometimes further treatment is needed to: