Pancreatitis symptoms & treatment

Pancreatitis develops when the pancreas becomes inflamed. The pancreas is a large gland located behind the stomach near the beginning of the small intestine. The main purpose of this gland is to produce insulin and glucagon to help regulate the way your body processes sugar. It also releases digestive enzymes – the fluids that help break down food so your body can use it for energy.With pancreatitis, the digestive fluids begin working before your pancreas releases them into the small intestine. When this happens, the fluids begin to damage the pancreas, causing irritation and inflammation.

Pancreatitis symptoms

Pancreatitis can be acute or chronic, and each type has slightly different symptoms. Acute pancreatitis is sudden inflammation that lasts just a few days. It usually requires emergency pancreatitis treatment, medical care and hospitalization. In some cases, it can be life-threatening. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), about 275,000 people in the U.S. are admitted to the hospital for acute pancreatitis treatment every year. Repeated episodes of acute pancreatitis can lead to chronic pancreatitis. Chronic pancreatitis is long-lasting inflammation that develops over years and can lead to scarring, loss of normal pancreatic functioning, gallstones or diabetes. Always see your doctor for abdominal pain that doesn’t get better.

Acute pancreatitis symptoms

• Severe pain or tenderness in the abdomen that radiates to your back and keeps getting worse
• Nausea and vomiting
• Severe diarrhea
• Fever or chills
• Fast heartbeat
• Shortness of breath
• Jaundice (yellowish color of the skin or whites of the eyes)

People with acute pancreatitis usually look and feel seriously ill and need to see a doctor right away.

Chronic pancreatitis symptoms

• Pain in the upper abdomen that becomes worse after eating, especially fatty foods
• Unexplained weight loss
• Indigestion
• Diarrhea
• Oily, smelly stools

Pancreatitis causes

The health conditions below can make you more likely to get pancreatitis. Taking certain medications can also lead to pancreatitis. In some cases, doctors can’t find the cause of pancreatitis. This is called idiopathic pancreatitis.

• Gallstones (Gallstones can get stuck in a pancreatic or bile duct, causing a blockage.)
• High triglycerides
• Genetic disorders of the pancreas
• Certain autoimmune conditions
• Infections such as viruses or parasites
• Injury to the abdomen
• High levels of fat (cholesterol, triglycerides) in your blood
• High levels of calcium in your blood
• Cystic fibrosis
• Diabetes
• Pancreatic cancer

Pancreatitis risk factors

These groups of people are also more likely to get pancreatitis:

• Men
• African Americans
• People who smoke
• People with obesity
• People who consume alcohol heavily (three or more drinks per day)
• People with a family history of pancreatitis
• People with a family history of gallstones

Pancreatitis complications

Pancreatitis can lead to serious complications, especially if you continue to drink alcohol after you’re diagnosed. Complications can include:

• Reduced ability to absorb nutrients, which can lead to malnutrition
• Narrowing or blockage of a bile or pancreatic duct
• Leakage from a pancreatic duct
• Pancreatic pseudocysts that can rupture, bleed heavily or get infected
• Damage to the pancreas
• Fluid buildup around the lungs
• Blockage in a vessel that drains blood from the spleen
• Sepsis (a serious blood infection that requires emergency care)
• Heart, lung or kidney failure
• Pancreatic cancer

Pancreatitis diagnosis

To diagnose pancreatitis, your doctor will ask you about any possible pancreatitis symptoms, and then perform a physical exam, pressing on your belly to see if it is tender. The doctor will also check for other pancreatitis symptoms such as low blood pressure and rapid pulse. The following testing also may be ordered:

• Blood tests
• Urine tests
• Stool test to find out if your body is having difficulty breaking down fat
• Secretin pancreatic function test to find out how your pancreas responds to the hormone secretin, which is produced by your small intestine
• Oral glucose tolerance test to find out if your pancreatitis has damaged the cells in your pancreas that produce insulin
• X-rays
• CT (computed tomography) scan
• Abdominal ultrasound
• Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)
• Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)

In severe cases, an ultrasound or CT scan may show signs of pancreatic necrosis, damage or death of the tissue. If this is the case, your doctor may take a tissue sample to make sure it is not infected. Any dead or infected tissue also may need to be removed.

Pancreatitis treatment

Depending on the severity of your pancreatitis, treatment may begin with a few days in the hospital, and then continue at home. The main goal of pancreatitis treatment is to rest the pancreas to help it heal. Common pancreatitis treatment options include:

• Pain medication and pain management
• Antibiotics
• Dietary changes and enzyme supplements
• IV (intravenous) fluids
• A feeding tube (to rest the pancreas for more than a few days)
• Removal of blockages in the bile duct with ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography)
• Surgery to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy)
• Surgery to drain fluid from the pancreas or to remove diseased parts of the pancreas

If you are diagnosed with pancreatitis, your doctor will likely also advise you to take the following steps to help prevent acute episodes:

• Stop drinking alcohol.
• Stop smoking.
• Stay hydrated by increasing your intake of clear liquids, preferably water.
• Eat smaller, more frequent meals.

The best food choices for pancreatitis

To help heal pancreatitis and ease pancreatitis symptoms, focus on foods that are rich in protein and low in animal fats. Lean meats, beans and lentils, clear soups and dairy alternatives are easier to digest, easing the work of the pancreas.

Instead of eating sugary desserts, choose fruit because pancreatitis puts you at high risk for diabetes. Adding more fruits, vegetables and whole grains to your diet also increases fiber, which can help lower the chance of developing gallstones. Many plant-based foods – including blueberries and spinach – also contain antioxidants, which help reduce inflammation.

Stay away from these foods

• Red meat
• Trans fats, which can be hidden in processed and fast foods
• Fried foods, including french fries and potato chips
• Mayonnaise
• Butter and margarine
• Whole milk
• Cookies, cakes and other pastries
• Colas and other beverages with added sugar

Add more of these foods to your diet

• Whole grains
• Fruits and vegetables, especially those high in antioxidants
• Beans and lentils
• Other plant-based foods that are not fried
• Low fat dairy or nondairy products such as oat, flax or almond milk