Acute Pancreatitis

Acute Pancreatitis

Description Symptoms Causes Diagnostics Treatment

Description

Acute pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas in a short period of time. The pancreas is a small organ that helps in digestion, produces insulin that controls the blood sugar level, and is located behind the stomach.

Symptoms

Mild to severe abdominal pain is the main symptom of acute pancreatitis. Other symptoms may include :

      Nausea and vomiting
      Respiratory failure
      Fever
      Mild jaundice
Visit a General Practice doctor (General Practitioner) if you have severe abdominal pain, you might be referred to a Gastroenterology doctor (Gastroenterologist) for proper diagnosis and treatment. 

Causes

Causes of acute pancreatitis may include :

       Gallstones
       Alcohol use
       Certain medications
       High triglyceride levels in the blood (hypertriglyceridemia)
       High calcium levels in the blood, which may be caused by an overactive parathyroid gland.
       Pancreatic cancer
       Abdominal surgery
       Cystic fibrosis
      Infection
      Injury to the abdomen
      Obesity

Diagnostics

Adding to the physical examination including the symptoms you are suffering from, your doctor may request the following tests :

       Blood tests to detect elevated levels of pancreatic enzymes.
       Abdominal ultrasound to look for gallstones and pancreas inflammation.
       CT scan to look for gallstones and assess the extent of pancreas inflammation.
       Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look for abnormalities in the gallbladder, pancreas, and ducts.
       Endoscopic ultrasound to look for inflammation and blockages in the pancreatic duct or bile duct.

Treatment

Treatment of acute pancreatitis includes controlling the inflammation and managing the symptoms. Most patients with acute pancreatitis get better within a few days. 

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