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 Is acute pancreatitis serious?
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A mild case of acute pancreatitis has a death rate of less than five percent, but in a serious case, it can be as high as fifty percent. It is considered a serious, life-threatening condition and requires hospitalization. Parts of the pancreas and other... Full Answer
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- Q What increases my risk for acute pancreatitis?
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Individuals who abuse alcohol and those who have gallstones are at greatest risk of acute pancreatitis. Other risk factors include surgery or injury to the abdomen. Tobacco users are at risk, as are people on some kinds of medications. If you have an... Full Answer
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- Q How long will pancreatitis last?
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Mild cases of acute pancreatitis may resolve on its own without treatment after a few days of discomfort. However, most cases of acute pancreatitis will require a stay in the hospital of at least a few days where you do not eat and receive intravenous... Full Answer
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- Q What increases my risk for chronic pancreatitis?
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Most cases of chronic pancreatitis have no known cause. Alcoholism is the most common of the known causes. Some people also have a family history of the disease, which may increase their risk. Other conditions that may contribute to chronic pancreatitis... Full Answer
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- Q What are the possible complications of acute pancreatitis?
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Complications usually don't arise in the milder cases. But when pancreatitis becomes severe, it can cause a variety of side effects. Some are confined to the pancreas, while others spread throughout the system. Among the latter are problems like lowered... Full Answer
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- Q What causes chronic pancreatitis?
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Most cases of chronic pancreatitis have no known cause. However, alcoholism, hyperparathyroidism, cancer, gallstones, heredity, or acute pancreatitis may all cause the condition. In tropical countries, children and young adults get chronic pancreatitis... Full Answer
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- Q Can acute pancreatitis have any complications?
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Acute pancreatitis is a serious, life-threatening condition that can develop complications. The damaged pancreas may release toxins into the bloodstream, which will damage other organs. The damage pancreas may bleed into the abdominal cavity, causing a... Full Answer
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- Q Does pancreatitis affect men differently than women?
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Both acute and chronic pancreatitis has been shown to affect men more often than women. The most common causes of acute pancreatitis are gallstones and alcoholism. The most common cause of chronic pancreatitis is alcoholism. Men are six times more likely... Full Answer
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- Q How do other illnesses affect chronic pancreatitis?
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The most common diseases that can cause chronic pancreatitis are alcoholism and gallbladder disease. Cystic fibrosis (mainly in children), some medications, autoimmune disorders, and hyperparathyroidism can also cause the condition. Acute (sudden)... Full Answer
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- Q Do children grow out of pancreatitis?
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Children can recover from pancreatitis but cannot grow out of the predisposition for having another attack of pancreatitis later in life. Pancreatitis in children is not very common. When a child is affected by pancreatitis it is most frequently acute... Full Answer
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