Table of contents:
- What is pancreatitis?
- Signs and symptoms of pancreatitis
- Symptoms of acute pancreatitis
- Symptoms of chronic pancreatitis
- When should you see a doctor?
Just like other organs of the body, the pancreas can also be affected by health problems. One of the diseases that attacks the pancreas is pancreatitis or inflammatory disease of the pancreas. Unfortunately, most people tend not to feel any symptoms when their pancreas is in trouble and they are often overlooked. So, what are the symptoms of pancreatitis that need to be watched out for? Come on, see the full review below.
What is pancreatitis?
Pancreatitis is one of the rare diseases when the pancreas becomes inflamed. This is because the enzymes produced by the digestive organs trigger chemical reactions and attack the pancreas. In severe cases, pancreatitis can cause bleeding in the glands, tissue damage, infection, and the appearance of cysts.
Pancreatitis consists of two types, namely acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis. The difference is, acute pancreatitis occurs suddenly and can cause complications. Meanwhile, chronic pancreatitis occurs when pancreatitis develops slowly and is exacerbated by drinking alcohol or other bad habits. As a result, the function of the pancreas will decrease and interfere with the digestive process to make weight loss drastically.
Signs and symptoms of pancreatitis
The signs and symptoms of pancreatitis may vary from person to person, depending on what type of pancreatitis you have. The most common symptom of acute and chronic pancreatitis is pain in the upper abdominal area, or more precisely under the ribs.
So, what are the symptoms of acute and chronic pancreatitis? Let's peel them one by one.
Symptoms of acute pancreatitis
Symptoms of acute pancreatitis usually begin with the onset of pain in the upper right abdomen and occur suddenly over several days. However, this pain can also appear persistent and concentrated in the abdomen or radiate to the back. These symptoms usually get worse shortly after eating.
Other symptoms of acute pancreatitis include:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Indigestion
- Fever up to 38 degrees Celsius or more
- Increased pulse
- Jaundice
- Pain or swelling in the stomach
- Stool is gray
In the most severe cases, pancreatitis can cause bleeding, shock, and lead to death.
Symptoms of chronic pancreatitis
Reporting from the Very Well page, as many as 70 to 80 percent of chronic pancreatitis cases are caused by excessive alcohol consumption and eventually develop into complications. Damage to the pancreas from alcohol may not cause any symptoms for years. So, sufferers only realized when a doctor was diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis.
The symptoms of chronic pancreatitis are generally the same as those of acute pancreatitis. Patients with chronic pancreatitis tend to experience three types of health problems, namely pain, inability to absorb food resulting in weight loss, and feces that tend to be oily and smelly (called steatorrhea).
When should you see a doctor?
If you begin to feel one or more symptoms of pancreatitis, consult a doctor immediately. This is especially true if you have severe stomach pain that prevents you from finding a comfortable position, even sitting down. Be careful with the frequency of vomiting that doesn't go away for several hours, because this symptom may be caused by pancreatitis.
Pancreatitis can be a severe and potentially life-threatening disease. Because of that, approach wait and see or waiting and seeing the feared symptoms will further aggravate the disease which should be treated immediately.
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