Pancreatitis
A disease of the endocrine system, pancreatitis can cause severe abdominal pain, fever and nausea and vomiting.
Pancreatitis develops when the digestive juices that your pancreas makes actually begins to break down the organ itself. This disease, which can either be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term), can cause internal bleeding, infection, tissue scarring and organ failure. Chronic pancreatitis actually causes the pancreas to slowly destroy itself.
Gallstones that block the pancreatic duct, a tube that connects the pancreas to part of the small intestine, can cause acute pancreatitis. However, heavy alcohol use is a primary cause of both acute and chronic pancreatitis.
Several days in the hospital can help resolve acute pancreatitis, but chronic pancreatitis can be much more difficult to treat, especially if the patient is an alcoholic. The surgical removal of certain nerves may be needed to relieve the severe abdominal pain associated with chronic pancreatitis.
Recently Answered
- Q What is pancreatitis?
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Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. It may be caused by a number of factors, including gallstones, alcohol, certain medications, a serious viral or bacterial infection, trauma to the abdomen, high triglyceride levels, or high blood calcium... Full Answer
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- Q How is pancreatitis diagnosed?
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Pancreatitis may be initially diagnosed with a blood test. These tests can confirm pancreatitis by revealing elevated levels of digestive enzymes, like amylase and lipase, as well as potassium, glucose, and calcium. Testing the stool may reveal high... Full Answer
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- Q What causes acute pancreatitis?
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Acute pancreatitis is usually caused by gallstones or the abuse of alcohol. When a gallstone blocks the duct that transports pancreatic fluid, the fluid begins to digest the pancreas and causes the inflammation. Other causes of acute pancreatitis include... Full Answer
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- Q What is a glucagonoma?
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About 5-10% of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors are glucagonomas, tumors that produce an inappropriate abundance of the hormone glucagon. It is estimated that one person out of 20 million will develop a glucagonoma each year. Glucagon is a protein... Full Answer
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- Q What causes pancreatitis?
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Pancreatitis is caused by digestive enzymes that are normally active outside the pancreas, but instead become active inside the pancreas and attack the pancreatic tissue. The attack of the enzymes causes the tissue to swell and become inflamed. One cause... Full Answer
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- Q Can pancreatitis cause diabetes?
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Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas which if it happens over a long time (known as chronic pancreatitis) can cause scar tissue to replace the normal functioning cells of the pancreas. Some of these cells known as Beta cells secrete... Full Answer
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- Q What are the symptoms of pancreatitis?
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Symptoms of pancreatitis include abdominal and back pain. You may notice that the pain in your abdomen or back that disappears as you change positions. There may be tenderness over your pancreas or in your back. Stool change, nausea, and weight loss are... Full Answer
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- Q Can pancreatitis be prevented?
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Depending on the cause of your pancreatitis, you may be able to prevent the onset of the condition. Pancreatitis brought on by alcohol abuse, diet, medication, or injury may be preventable. Reducing the amount of alcohol you consume, as well as the... Full Answer
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- Q How is pancreatitis treated?
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Unless you have a very mild case of pancreatitis that resolves on its own, treatment of pancreatitis will involve hospitalization. In the hospital, you will be given fluids through a needle in your arm. Fluids are necessary to keep you hydrated and... Full Answer
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- Q What is my life expectancy with pancreatitis?
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Life expectancy with chronic pancreatitis is reduced by 10 to 15 years. When acute pancreatitis is severe with damage and bleeding or inflammation that has spread to other organs, the likelihood of fatality can be as high as 50 percent. Milder cases of... Full Answer
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