Pancreatitis: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatments
The structure of digestive diseases in children and adolescents is dominated by gastritis, in adults — pancreatitis. The effectiveness of treatment largely depends on the timely request for medical help. The chronic course of the disease significantly reduces the quality of life. An acute attack is accompanied by complications that require surgical intervention.
Reasons
- Addiction to alcohol.
- Obesity, systematic overeating, the predominance of fatty foods in the menu.
- Drug intoxication.
- Helminthiasis.
- Hypertension, atherosclerosis.
In 9 cases out of 10, pancreatitis accompanies stone formation in the gallbladder and its ducts communicating with the ducts of the pancreas.
Clinical course
Acute pancreatitis of the pancreas begins suddenly. More often due to alcohol intoxication or movement of concretions in the bile ducts. Symptoms increase rapidly, there is a threat of peritonitis, abscess, false cyst. The patient needs emergency hospitalization.
Chronic inflammation develops against the background of frequent functional failures of the gland. The clinic is characterized by a wave-like flow. In the latent phase, the disease may not bother, but when it worsens, it manifests itself with vivid clinical symptoms. Relapse is provoked by errors in nutrition, alcohol consumption, excessive physical exertion. With moderate spasms, uncomplicated course, it is allowed to be treated at home.
Symptoms
The acute condition is characterized by:
- Unbearable pains in the hypochondrium. They are often given under the shoulder blade, encircle the body along the course of the rib nerves, strengthen with a deep breath, change of body position.
- Severe nausea, repeated vomiting. With an empty stomach, the patient vomits bile.
- Xerostomia (dry mouth). Accompanied by hiccups, belching with a bitter taste and smell.
- Febrile temperature. Excessive sweating, chills are possible.
- Intense gas formation, difficult painful digestion, upset stool.
External changes include gray-yellow skin color, dense yellowish plaque on the tongue, cyanotic spots in the navel and nasolabial triangle.
During the remission of chronic pancreatitis , the patient is disturbed:
- abdominal discomfort, cramps after eating;
- flatulence, greasy and fetid stools;
- unstable body temperature.
The symptoms of an exacerbation of the disease are similar to attacks of acute inflammation. The lack of adequate therapy results in anemia, weight loss, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, pancreatic necrosis, pancreatic head cancer.
Treatment
Therapy of chronic pancreatitis is aimed at stabilizing the exocrine function of the pancreas — the production and implementation of enzymes. During the period of remission, it is important to adhere to proper nutrition, adult patients refuse to drink alcohol.