What are the major symptoms of pancreatitis?

The pancreas is a very important tissue in the body, but most people tend to ignore it because it is located in a very remote area and its functions on people are relatively basic, so it rarely causes diseases. However, once the pancreas develops a disease, the problem is very serious and can cause great harm to people's health. Let's take a look at the major symptoms of pancreatitis.

1. Acute pancreatitis

There is often a history of overeating or biliary disease before the onset. Acute pancreatitis can be divided into common type and hemorrhagic necrotic type. The hemorrhagic necrotic type is less common, but the condition is serious and the mortality rate is high.

(1) Shock patients often have symptoms of shock such as pallor, cold sweat, weak pulse, and low blood pressure. There may be many reasons for shock, such as pancreatic juice overflow, irritation of the peritoneum causing severe pain; bleeding in the pancreatic tissue and abdominal cavity; tissue necrosis, body poisoning caused by protein decomposition, etc. Severe shock can result in death if not promptly treated.

(2) Abdominal pain Abdominal pain is often located in the upper and middle abdomen, and sometimes radiates to the waist and back in a band-like manner. It can be relieved by bending over or leaning forward to sit. It often occurs suddenly after drinking a lot of alcohol or eating a full meal. The severity varies, ranging from dull pain in mild cases to persistent colic in severe cases.

(3) Nausea and vomiting: Most patients vomit gastric contents or even bile at the onset of the disease, and the abdominal pain does not ease after vomiting.

(4) Fever Most patients with acute pancreatitis experience moderate fever, which usually lasts for 3 to 5 days.

(5) Patients with water-electrolyte and acid-base imbalances have varying degrees of dehydration. Frequent vomiting may lead to metabolic alkali poisoning. Severe pancreatitis is often accompanied by metabolic acidosis, hypocalcemia, increased blood sugar, hypokalemia, and hypomagnesemia.

2. Chronic pancreatitis

(1) Abdominal pain is mostly located in the upper abdomen and is diffuse, radiating to the back and ribs. It is relieved by sitting up or leaning forward.

(2) Pancreatic insufficiency causes varying degrees of indigestion symptoms such as abdominal distension, poor appetite, aversion to oil, weight loss, and steatorrhea; half of the patients develop diabetes due to endocrine dysfunction.

(3) Signs: Mild chronic pancreatitis rarely has positive signs. Some cases may have mild tenderness in the upper abdomen. Late-stage chronic pancreatitis may have symptoms of malnutrition due to steatorrhea. If it is an acute attack, moderate to severe tenderness in the upper abdomen may occur.