Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. The main complaints for inflammation of the pancreas are pain, nausea, eructation and stool breaking. Distinguish acute and chronic form of the disease. Complaints for acute and chronic pancreatitis are similar, but have some differences.
The main complaint for acute pancreatitis is pain. Pain is characterized by its intensity and captures the upper half of the abdomen. It can "give" in the back, in the right and left shoulder blade and in the heart area. Usually, pain occurs after excessive drinking and strong coffee. Also, nausea, vomiting, fever, general weakness, tachycardia, local edema of the skin, weight loss, jaundice of the skin are observed. After the effective, usually all signs of the disease disappear, and the functions of the pancreas come back to normal. As a rule, the main symptoms disappear in a week.
In chronic pancreatitis, as with acute, the main complaint is also pain. Unlike the acute form, the pain is blunt and less intense. With chronic pancreatitis, complaints of nausea, vomiting, anorexia, loose stools, excessive salivation, weight loss. The further development of chronic inflammation can lead to damage not only to the gland, but also to neighboring organs. In this case, exacerbations tend to increase. In comparison with acute, signs of chronic pancreatitis are less pronounced. Even after their disappearance, changes in the pancreas remain, the frequency of relapses is 6-8 months.
In severe forms of pancreatitis, patients complain of shock and collapse. Perhaps as an increase in temperature( with purulent disease), and lowering( with edema of the pancreas).Pallor, yellowness and cyanosis( cyanosis) are observed. As for cyanosis, it occurs infrequently, but is characteristic of severe forms of the disease. With cyanosis, both local and general blueing of the skin on the abdomen, in the umbilical region and on the face of the patient are observed.
If you have the above complaints during pancreatitis, the patient should undergo a thorough diagnosis:
- pancreas ultrasound - an increase in its size;
- general blood test - high leukocytosis and accelerated ESR( erythrocyte sedimentation rate);
- biochemical blood test - increased levels of amylase;
- urine analysis - increased level of diastase;
- stool analysis - identification of undigested food residues.
To clarify the diagnosis, diagnostic laparoscopy is performed. With its help, it is possible to detect tumors and cysts of the pancreas, which are difficult to detect using conventional methods.