Pancreatitis – Symptoms

Transcript

The symptoms of acute and chronic pancreatitis usually vary In acute pancreatitis, symptoms may include severe abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, fever, and tenderness in the abdomen. In severe cases, pancreatic necrosis, fluid in the lungs, and even organ failure may ensue. If your abdominal pain is incredibly severe as well as persistent, seek immediate medical attention. In some other cases of acute pancreatitis, a fluid collection known as a pseudocyst may develop, which generally occurs weeks to months after the initial episode. Pseudocysts are generally benign fluid collections. However, if they grow large enough where they start pressing on other organs, they may require drainage. Chronic pancreatitis may result in oily stools and weight loss due to malabsorption. The pancreas normally produces digestive enzymes to help us digest food, and if there is scarring of the pancreatic tissue, thereby leading to lack of enzyme production, then malabsorption may occur. There is also evidence suggesting that chronic pancreatitis increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.