Pancreatitis does not occur suddenly. As a rule - this is the consequence of several recurrent attacks of acute form of pancreatic disease. It is very simple to recognize a recurrence or a chronic form: if from the moment of an acute attack less than 6 months have passed, this is a recurrent disease, and if the attack happened later than six months, then the pancreatitis has passed into a chronic form.
Symptoms of chronic pancreatitis
Often, chronic pancreatitis can develop on the background of other diseases: cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, alcoholism. The main signs of chronic pancreatitis:
- constant or arising during physical exertion pain in the hypochondrium or under the "spoon";
- sharp weight loss;
- stool disorder (oily diarrhea in the form of undigested food);
- a feeling of disgust for fatty foods;
- loss of appetite.
Indirect signs of pancreatitis may indicate other diseases, but often manifest in the chronic form of this disease, as well as signs of an exacerbation of pancreatitis:
- pain in the heart, as in angina pectoris;
- backache;
- yellowing of the skin (mechanical jaundice);
- Development of diabetes mellitus with advanced form of the disease.
Signs of acute pancreatitis
Recognize acute pancreatitis is very simple. With this form of the disease, the main distinguishing factor is pain, nausea and diarrhea. Symptoms are usually very intense. Vomiting does not bring relief, so acute pancreatitis can not be confused with food poisoning or gastritis. Pain syndrome is very strong, which can lead to a shock state with a sharp drop in blood pressure. Often the pain provokes tachycardia.
The main signs of acute pancreatitis:
- severe pain in the hypochondrium or just above the navel;
- vomiting;
- diarrhea;
- temperature increase;
- tachycardia.
Such symptoms indicate the need for immediate medical attention. In severe cases, surgery is required. Signs of exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis are similar in many respects to an attack of acute pancreatitis. In any case, having noticed such symptoms, you should immediately call an ambulance.
Regardless of whether it is chronic or acute pancreatitis, it is worth paying attention to unusual phenomena and symptoms that signal a violation of the pancreas. Perhaps this is the first signs of pancreatitis:
- nausea after eating;
- heaviness in the stomach and intestines;
- stool (frequent transitions from constipation to diarrhea);
- frequent meteorisms and eructations.
Signs of reactive pancreatitis
Reactive pancreatitis occurs suddenly. It can develop even on the background of absolute health after a copious intake of very fatty and spicy foods or a large amount of alcohol. Symptoms and signs of reactive pancreatitis are the same symptoms that occur with acute pancreatitis. In particularly severe cases, reactive pancreatitis can lead to death.
External signs of pancreatitis
In addition, that a patient with acute pancreatitis takes a characteristic posture, bent by the trunk to the knees, there are few visible signs of pancreatitis. Therefore, to determine pancreatitis in appearance is difficult. Yellowing of the skin is, perhaps, the most obvious sign. But it is not found in all cases. Sometimes necrosis of subcutaneous adipose tissue and cyanosis of the skin around the navel can be noticeable. But these are especially severe cases, which do not require diagnosis by external signs.
For a more accurate diagnosis, ultrasound is performed. Signs of pancreatitis as a result of such a survey - a change in shape and roughness of the edges of the gland, the presence of cysts - give a more complete and accurate picture of the severity of the disease.