Content
Pancreatitis is a severe inflammation of the pancreas that happens when digestive enzymes produced by the organ itself are released inside, promoting its progressive destruction and leading to the appearance of signs and symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, fever and hypotension.
According to the duration and evolution of symptoms, pancreatitis can be classified into:
- Acute, which happens suddenly and has a relatively short duration;
- Chronic, in which symptoms worsen over time, which can cause permanent damage and make treatment more complex.
It is important that the person consult the doctor for the diagnosis to be made, the cause identified and appropriate treatment initiated, which can be through the use of medication or surgery.
Pancreatitis symptoms
The symptoms of pancreatitis arise when the enzymes produced by the pancreas and responsible for the digestion of nutrients in the intestine are released in the pancreas itself, initiating the digestion of the organ itself and resulting in the appearance of signs and symptoms such as:
- Pain in the upper abdomen, which may radiate to the back, which worsens over time and after meals;
- Nausea and vomiting;
- Swelling and tenderness in the belly;
- Fever;
- Increased heart rate;
- Yellowish or white stools with signs of fat;
- Unintentional weight loss;
- Malnutrition, since digestion is not complete and nutrients cannot be absorbed by the intestine.
In the presence of these symptoms, it is important to consult the doctor as soon as possible, as the disease can quickly worsen and cause bleeding or serious problems in the kidneys, lungs and heart, increasing the risk of death.
Thus, in order to avoid complications of pancreatitis, the physician must indicate the performance of tests that allow the cause of pancreatitis to be identified and, thus, initiate the most appropriate treatment, with the possibility of performing imaging and laboratory tests, especially the dosage of the enzymes amylase and lipase in the blood, which are enzymes produced by the pancreas. Understand how pancreatitis is diagnosed.
Main causes
Pancreatitis is caused by situations that can interfere with the functioning of the pancreas and alter the process of production and release of digestive enzymes. Although it can happen in healthy people, pancreatitis is more common in some cases, such as:
- Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages;
- Gall stones;
- Cystic fibrosis;
- Autoimmune diseases.
- High levels of calcium in the blood;
- Pancreatic cancer;
- As a consequence of using some medication;
- Viral infections, such as mumps or measles.
In addition, people with a family history of pancreatitis are also more likely to have the problem at some point in their lives.
How the treatment is done
Treatment for pancreatitis is done at the hospital and varies according to the symptoms presented by the person and the severity of the disease, and the use of medications to relieve pain and use of antibiotics may be indicated, in some cases, to reduce the risk of infections secondary.
In addition, in the case of acute pancreatitis, it is indicated that the person does not eat until the crisis passes, as this way it is possible to avoid inflammation of the pancreas and promote its recovery.
In the case of chronic pancreatitis, tube feeding may be necessary for a few weeks, and the doctor may recommend the use of drugs with digestive enzymes, which help digest food and allow it to be absorbed through the intestine. See more details on the treatment of pancreatitis.
Check out the following video for more tips on feeding in pancreatitis: