Pancreatitis Symptoms in Humans

The pancreas is a small gland located behind the stomach in humans and plays a role in digestion. Pancreatic enzymes combine with bile to allow humans to digest their food properly. This gland also sends insulin through the blood and helps regulate blood sugar levels. When the pancreas becomes inflamed, the enzymes produced by the pancreas attack the organ itself. The state of inflammation is called pancreatitis. Pancreatitis can be separated into two categories: acute and chronic. The development of abscesses inside the pancreas is sometimes considered a type of pancreatitis as well. Using pain relievers and antibiotics are two methods to treating pancreatitis symptoms, although surgery may be required in some cases.

Populations Affected

• Both men and women can develop pancreatitis of any sort, although as the University of Maryland Medical Center reported, the risk of getting a particular kind of pancreatitis may be related to gender. Women are more susceptible than men to acute pancreatitis stemming from gallstones, a common cause of acute pancreatitis. Six times more males than females are diagnosed with alcoholism-induced acute pancreatitis. The majority of people with pancreatitis are adults in their 30s and 40s, but children whose family members are affected by the disease can also develop inflammation, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC).

Acute Pancreatitis

• Acute pancreatitis is a kind of inflammation that comes on suddenly and can become serious very quickly. Pancreatitis of this type is often caused by gallstones and, according to the NDDIC, more than 200,000 people are diagnosed with the condition each year. Symptoms of acute pancreatitis include swelling in the abdominal region and pain that travels from the abdomen to the back and does not go away even with the help of pain medications. The stomach is painful to touch. A person with acute pancreatitis is usually nauseated, may vomit and can become dehydrated if he cannot keep down liquids. Fever may also accompany abdominal symptoms of acute pancreatitis. An elevated pulse is also consistent with acute pancreatitis in some people.

Chronic Pancreatitis

• The onset of chronic pancreatitis is much more slow-paced than that of acute pancreatitis, but the implications are just as serious. The most common cause of chronic pancreatitis is alcoholism. Many of the symptoms of chronic pancreatitis mimic that of the acute form of the disease, including abdominal and back pain and nausea. Additional symptoms of chronic pancreatitis include diarrhea and weight loss that may be dramatic at times due to a lack of proper digestion. Enzymes that are normally produced in the pancreas cease to be produced in a state of chronic pancreatitis, and vitamins from digested food are not absorbed into the body as they should be. Nutrients that are not absorbed are excreted, making feces greasier than normal.

Pancreatic Abscess

• Pancreatic abscess occurs in some people who have had an inflammation of the pancreas. An abscess is an infection within the gland that produces pus. Symptoms of this type of pancreatic infection include fever, nausea and vomiting, and pain in the abdominal region. People with these symptoms need to seek medical attention as soon as possible so that the abscess can be drained and the infection can be managed. Leaving the abscess untreated can lead to permanent damage of the pancreas or life-threatening complications, such as sepsis.

Complications

• Pancreatitis symptoms can develop into more severe health conditions if they are not treated immediately. Digestive enzymes and byproducts from infection can enter the bloodstream if they are not drained effectively. Failure to treat pancreatitis symptoms can cause a variety of problems, including labored breathing, low oxygen levels and kidney failure. There is no hard and fast way to prevent pancreatitis symptoms, but if the inflammation is caused by excessive drinking, symptoms can be made better by abstention of alcohol. Routine medical care for gallbladder attacks and gallstones can also help prevent pancreatitis from becoming a life-threatening situation.