Overview
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, a gland located behind the stomach. The pancreas helps the digestion of food and blood sugar regulation. There are two main types of pancreatitis: chronic and acute.
Acute pancreatitis is a sudden inflammation of the pancreas that usually resolves on its own or with treatment. It can be mild or severe, and symptoms can include upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever. The most common causes include gallstones and heavy alcohol consumption, but other factors like certain medications, infections, trauma, or genetic predisposition can also lead to pancreatitis.
Chronic pancreatitis is long term inflammation of the pancreas. Damage to the pancreas can worsen over time, leading to impaired pancreatic function. It can result in persistent abdominal pain, malabsorption, weight loss, and diabetes. Chronic pancreatitis is usually associated with long-term alcohol abuse, but other factors such as genetic predisposition, high calcium and triglyceride levels and damage from recurrent acute pancreatitis can also contribute. Symptoms can include unexplained weight loss, upper abdominal pain, especially after eating, and oily stools.
How is it diagnosed?
Diagnosing pancreatitis could involve blood tests, stool tests or endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). Blood and stool tests can detect how well the pancreas and other organs are working. Endoscopic ultrasound can detect cancer and gallstones, show inflammation and if there are blockages in the bile duct. Imaging tests such as abdominal ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may also be used to visualize the pancreas, detect gallstones or other abnormalities, and assess the severity of inflammation.
How is it treated?
There isn’t an exact treatment for pancreatitis and is based on the individual’s symptoms, health history, and severity of pancreatitis. It may involve managing complications such as diabetes, pancreatic pseudocysts, and gallstones. Chronic pain associated with pancreatitis may require long-term pain management strategies, including medications and nerve blocks. Dietary modifications and treatment for alcohol abuse is also recommended. Surgery may also be an option. If you have gallstones that caused pancreatitis, removal of the gallbladder is a possibility. ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) can also be used to remove gallstones. Pancreatic enzymes can also be prescribed to help break down food and absorb the nutrients, especially if you have diarrhea and weight loss.
References
Mayo Clinic. (2023). Pancreatitis. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pancreatitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20360227
