Symptoms of Pancreatitis Including Fever

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, the gland behind the stomach that is responsible for producing enzymes to aid in digestion. The pancreas also produces hormones such as insulin. When pancreatitis develops, the enzymes attack and cause damage to the pancreatic tissue. Pancreatitis can be a serious condition. It has many causes, including gallstones, alcohol abuse, infections, high triglyceride levels, recent abdominal surgery and some medications. Fever is one common sign of the condition, but there are also many others.

Pain

• Abdominal pain is one of the most noticeable symptoms of pancreatitis. The pain is typically felt in the center of the abdomen, and it may radiate to the back and shoulders. It's more common to experience the pain after eating, and in some cases you may be able to relieve the pain by curling yourself into a ball.

Acute Pancreatitis

• Acute pancreatitis, which typically develops suddenly and without warning, has several symptoms that are different from those of chronic pancreatitis, which is almost always the result of alcohol abuse. Besides fever and abdominal pain, people with acute pancreatitis may also experience nausea and vomiting, a rapid pulse and a tender abdomen. In severe cases of acute pancreatitis, bleeding may develop and the heart, lungs and kidneys may begin to fail.

Chronic Pancreatitis

• People with chronic pancreatitis often experience symptoms that are different from those of acute pancreatitis. Both conditions result in abdominal pain, but chronic pancreatitis also results in indigestion and heartburn, oily stools and unexplained weight loss.
  Chronic pancreatitis develops as a result of long-term alcohol abuse that causes the pancreas to become scarred. It starts as an acute form of the condition that does not get better because of continued alcohol use.