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Acute pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas that occurs mainly due to excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages or the presence of stones in the gallbladder, causing severe abdominal pain that appears suddenly and is extremely disabling.
Generally, people with acute pancreatitis recover easily when the cause of the disease is identified, so it may be necessary to have surgery to remove gall stones, for example.
Acute pancreatitis is curable and its treatment should be started in the hospital with drugs directly in the vein, to relieve symptoms.
Main symptoms
The main ones of acute pancreatitis include:
- Intense pain in the upper belly, radiating to the back;
- Abdominal swelling;
- Excessive sweat;
- Increased heart rate;
- Nausea and vomiting;
- Loss of appetite;
- Fever;
- Diarrhea.
These symptoms may only last a few hours, but they usually last for about 1 week. During this period, it is recommended to do medical treatment to relieve symptoms, as well as to identify the cause of pancreatitis, as more specific treatment may be needed.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of pancreatitis can usually be made only on the basis of each person's symptoms and medical history. However, the doctor also orders some tests, mainly blood tests to assess the levels of pancreatic enzymes in the blood, such as lipase, which tends to be very high in cases of pancreatitis. Understand more about the lipase test and the results.
In addition, other tests, such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging or abdominal ultrasound, may also be required to try to identify any changes that may be the cause of pancreatitis and that require more specific treatment.
Possible causes of pancreatitis
Although most cases of acute pancreatitis occur due to excessive alcohol consumption or the presence of gallstones, other causes exist:
- Side effect of some medication;
- Viral infections, such as mumps or measles;
- Autoimmune diseases.
Although they are more rare, these causes should also be investigated, especially if pancreatitis is not related to the most common causes.
How the treatment is done
The treatment for acute pancreatitis should be guided by a gastroenterologist, but it usually consists of hospitalizing the person and leaving them on an empty stomach, being hydrated only with saline in the vein. This procedure is able to relieve pain in about 80% of cases, as it reduces the activity of the pancreas, which is widely used in digestion.
In addition, the doctor may also prescribe the use of painkillers, Paracetamol or Tramadol, as well as antibiotics, to relieve symptoms and prevent new infections. These remedies can be maintained even when the person is discharged and returns home.
In some cases, it may still be necessary to resort to surgery to remove gall stones or to remove the affected part of the pancreas. In these cases, the patient may develop diabetes, as the pancreas is responsible for the production of insulin, and therefore may need to make insulin injections for the rest of his life. Find out more details about treatment for acute pancreatitis and when surgery is indicated.
Diet for acute pancreatitis
The diet for acute pancreatitis consists of fasting in the first days of hospitalization and until the symptoms are controlled with medical treatment. In the most severe cases, the person receives food through a tube. Then, feeding should be started gradually, giving preference to:
- Foods rich in carbohydrates and lean proteins;
- Fruits, vegetables, greens and vegetables,
- Water, teas or coconut water.
It is very important that the person does not consume very fatty foods, such as fried foods, cakes or snacks, as these foods need the enzymes produced by the pancreas to be properly digested and, at this stage, the pancreas must rest to recover. Better understand what the pancreatitis diet should be like.
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