Pancreas is a gland located behind the stomach in the upper abdomen. It produces digestive enzymes to help break down food and hormones like insulin that regulates blood sugar levels. When the pancreas gets inflamed, the condition is called pancreatitis.
Let’s understand what pancreatitis is, what are its symptoms and causes, and how it is diagnosed and managed.
What is Pancreatitis?
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas. It causes abdominal pain that radiates to your back.
Pancreas is a long, flat organ in your abdomen that sits between your stomach and spine. It helps your body to digest food and regulates blood sugars. It makes digestive enzymes like amylase that are delivered to the small intestines through the pancreatic duct. It also makes hormones like insulin that is involved in regulation of your blood sugars.
Types of Pancreatitis
The two main types of pancreatitis are:
Acute Pancreatitis
It is the sudden inflammation of the pancreas that lasts for a short time. Acute attacks usually get better within a few days with treatment. In some cases, it can cause life-threatening complications like organ failure.
Chronic Pancreatitis
It is the long-term inflammation of the pancreas that doesn’t go away. It causes permanent damage that worsens over time, and can affect digestion and blood sugar control. Chronic pancreatitis is often followed by an attack of acute pancreatitis.
Symptoms of Pancreatitis
Symptoms of pancreatitis depend on its type. The main symptom is abdominal pain that can be moderate to severe. In case of acute pancreatitis, pain tends to be more severe.
Symptoms of Acute Pancreatitis
- Pain in the upper belly that radiates to the back
- Tenderness on touching the belly
- Fever
- Rapid pulse
- Fast, shallow breathing
- Vomiting
- Upset stomach
Symptoms of Chronic Pancreatitis
- Pain in the upper belly (may feel worse after eating or when you lie flat and may get better when you lean forward or sit upright)
- Weight loss (without trying)
- Oily, foul smelling stools that can leave a film in the toilet
- Lightheadedness (due to low blood pressure)
Causes of Pancreatitis
The two most common causes that are together responsible for about 70 to 80% of pancreatitis cases are:
- Gallstones—they can block the pancreatic duct leading to inflammation
- Alcohol
Other less common causes of pancreatitis include:
- Autoimmune diseases (autoimmune pancreatitis)
- Infections such as viruses
- Inherited gene mutations (hereditary pancreatitis)
- Complication of cystic fibrosis
- Ischemia (reduced blood supply)
- Certain medicines
- High levels of triglycerides in the blood (hypertriglyceridemia)
- High levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia)
- Injury to pancreas from trauma or surgery
- Pancreas cancer
Sometimes the cause of pancreatitis can’t be found, this is called idiopathic pancreatitis.
Diagnosis of Pancreatitis
Your doctor would ask questions about your symptoms and medical history and do a physical examination. To confirm the diagnosis, they would order some tests which may include:
- Blood tests to check for high levels of pancreatic enzymes—amylase and lipase
- Imaging tests like ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI to check for gallstones, inflammation, or duct blockages
- Stool tests—in chronic pancreatitis, these may show fat malabsorption
Your doctor may order some other tests as well depending upon your condition.
Management of Pancreatitis
Management of pancreatitis depends on whether it’s acute or chronic, what caused it, and how severe it is.
Management of Acute Pancreatitis
In case of acute pancreatitis, the main focus is on supportive care, while the pancreas heals. This includes:
- Pain medicines (oral or intravenous) to help control the pain caused by pancreatitis
- Intravenous (IV) fluids to keep you hydrated
- Nutritional support via feeding tube or I.V, if you’re not able to tolerate food by mouth)
If you have gallstone pancreatitis, procedures may be required, like:
- ERCP (Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) to remove gallstones from your bile ducts.
- Surgery to remove gallbladder (often laparoscopic) in order to prevent future problems caused by gallstones.
If you develop complications, you may need additional support including antibiotics, procedures for removal of dead tissue and drainage of fluid, or even intensive care.
Management of Chronic Pancreatitis
Chronic pancreatitis is usually managed by a specialist, focusing on management of symptoms and slowing the disease progression.
- Pain management—this may involve different medications, procedures, or nerve blocks if pain is severe.
- Lifestyle changes—quit smoking and drinking alcohol, taking a low-fat balanced diet, and drinking plenty of water daily.
- Pancreatic enzyme supplements to support digestion.
- Nutritional supplements (vitamins and minerals) to prevent malnutrition.
- Diabetes management—if insulin production is affected, then insulin therapy may be recommended.
- Surgery—in case of severe localised damage, a part or all of the pancreas is removed.
Complications of Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis can cause serious complications like:
- Kidney failure
- Breathing problems
- Malnutrition
- Diabetes
- Pancreatic pseudocysts
- Pancreatic cancer
When to See a Doctor
If you experience sudden and severe abdominal pain, especially if it is accompanied by vomiting and fever, see your doctor right away. Acute pancreatitis can escalate quickly and timely hospital care can be life saving.
If you’re having ongoing and persistent abdominal pain with unexplained weight loss or greasy stools, discuss it with your doctor. These may be signs of chronic pancreatitis.
Final Thoughts
Pancreatitis is a serious condition that requires medical attention and lifestyle changes. Acute cases usually get better quickly with effective treatment. However, in case of chronic pancreatitis, long-term care and support is needed.
If you suspect symptoms, don’t ignore them. Early detection and management can make a big difference and prevent complications.
