Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis Facts
An illustration of the human pancreas. by Photo Researchers Inc
Pancreatitis simply means inflammation of the pancreas. There are two types of pancreatitis, acute and chronic.
- Causes of acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis are similar; about 80%-90% are caused by alcohol abuse and gallstones (about 35%-45% for each); while the remaining 10%-20% are caused by medications, chemical exposures, trauma, hereditary diseases, infections, surgical procedures, and high fat levels in the blood and genetic abnormalities with pancreas or intestine
- Symptoms of acute pancreatitis most commonly begin with abdominal pain in the middle or upper left part of the abdomen and abdominal pain may increase after eating or lying flat on the back. Other symptoms may include
- Severe acute pancreatitis symptoms and signs may show skin discoloration around the belly button or the side of the body between the ribs and hip (flank), or small erythematous skin nodules.
- Necrotizing pancreatitis is a severe form of acute pancreatitis characterized by necrosis in and around the pancreas.
- Symptoms of chronic pancreatitis may or may not include abdominal pain that may include
- Diagnosis of pancreatitis (both acute and chronic) is done similarly. Patient history will be taken, physical exam will be performed, and various tests may be ordered.
- Although acute pancreatitis should not be treated at home initially, there are steps that can help prevent or reduce symptoms.
- The major risk factors for pancreatitis are heavy alcohol consumption and a history of gallstones; they cause about 80%-90% of pancreatitis; other factors such as genetics and medications may increase an individual’s risk.
- Treatment of acute pancreatitis is done according to the underlying cause. Most acute cases of pancreatitis are treated in the hospital or the goal is to relieve symptoms in support body functions so that the pancreas can recover from the inflammation (if the inflammation is caused by infection, antibiotics are given).
- Treatment of chronic pancreatitis is often treated with pain relieving medications, diet changes. Some patients may require oral pancreatic enzymes in pill form to help digest food and others may require insulin. All patients with pancreatitis are strongly advised to stop drinking alcohol.
- Surgical treatment of pancreatitis may be used to remove gallstones and the gallbladder or abnormalities in the pancreas.
- A pancreatic diet is a low-fat diet; no more than 20g/day and no alcohol but plenty of fluid and with chronic pancreatitis flares, only clear liquids with no foods may be recommended for 24-48 hours.
- Pancreatitis can be reduced or prevented by stopping alcohol consumption; early intervention to prevent complications of gallstones also may reduce the chance of developing pancreatitis.
- About 90%-95% of patients treated for acute pancreatitis may completely recover if the underlying cause such as alcohol or infection is appropriately treated.
- Some people may develop chronic pancreatitis or die from complications such as kidney failure, diabetes, breathing problems and/or brain damage. The prognosis for someone with chronic pancreatitis is less optimistic than for acute pancreatitis.
What Is Pancreatitis?
Illustration of the location of the pancreas, liver, and gallbladder
The pancreas is a gland located in the upper part of the abdomen. It produces two main types of substances: digestive juices and digestive hormones. Inflammation of the pancreas is termed pancreatitis and its inflammation has various causes.
Once the gland becomes inflamed, the condition can progress to swelling of the gland and surrounding blood vessels, bleeding, infection, and damage to the gland. There, digestive juices become trapped and start “digesting” the pancreas itself.
If this damage persists, the gland may not be able to carry out normal functions. Pancreatitis may be acute (new, short-term) or chronic (ongoing, long-term). Either type can be very severe, even life-threatening. Either type can have serious complications.
- Acute pancreatitis usually begins soon after the damage to the pancreas begins. Attacks are typically very mild, but about 20% of them are very severe. An attack lasts for a short time and usually resolves completely as the pancreas returns to its normal state. Some people have only one attack, whereas other people have more than one attack, but the pancreas always returns to its normal state unless necrotizing pancreatitis develops and becomes life-threatening.
- Chronic pancreatitis begins as acute pancreatitis. If the pancreas becomes scarred during the attack of acute pancreatitis, it cannot return to its normal state. The damage to the gland continues, worsening over time.
The reported annual incidence of acute pancreatitis has ranged from 4.9 to 80 cases per 100,000 people. About 80,000 cases of acute pancreatitis occur in the United States each year. Pancreatitis can occur in people of all ages, although it is very rare in children. Pancreatitis occurs in men and women, although chronic pancreatitis is more common in men than in women.
What Are Symptoms of Acute Pancreatitis?
The most common symptom of acute pancreatitis or pancreas pain is abdominal pain. Almost everybody with acute pancreatitis experiences abdominal pain.
- The pain may come on suddenly or build up gradually. If the pain begins suddenly, it is typically very severe. If the pain builds up gradually, it starts out mild but may become severe.
- The pain is usually centered in the upper middle or upper left part of the belly (abdomen). The pain is often described as if it radiates from the front of the abdomen through to the back.
- The pain often begins or worsens after eating.
- The pain typically lasts a few days.
- The pain may feel worse when a person lies flat on his or her back.
People with acute pancreatitis usually feel very sick. Besides pain, people may have other symptoms and signs.
- Nausea (Some people do vomit, but vomiting does not relieve the symptoms.)
- Fever, chills, or both
- Swollen abdomen which is tender to the touch
- Rapid heartbeat (A rapid heartbeat may be due to the pain and fever, dehydration from vomiting and not eating, or it may be a compensation mechanism if a person is bleeding internally.)
In very severe cases with infection or bleeding, a person may become dehydrated and have low blood pressure, in addition to the following symptoms:
- Weakness or feeling tired (fatigue)
- Feeling lightheaded or faint
- Confusion or difficulty concentrating
- Cullen’s sign (bluish skin around the belly button)
- Grey-Turner sign (reddish-brown skin discoloration along the flanks)
- Erythematous skin nodules
If the blood pressure becomes extremely low, the organs of the body do not get enough blood to carry out their normal functions. This very dangerous condition is called circulatory shock and is referred to simply as shock.
Severe acute pancreatitis is a medical emergency.
What Are the Symptoms of Chronic Pancreatitis?
Pain is less common in chronic pancreatitis than in acute pancreatitis. Some people have pain, but many people do not experience abdominal pain. For those people who do have pain, the pain is usually constant and may be disabling; however, the pain often goes away as the condition worsens. This lack of pain is a bad sign because it probably means that the pancreas has stopped working.
Other symptoms of chronic pancreatitis are related to long-term complications, such as the following:
- Inability to produce insulin (diabetes)
- Inability to digest food (weight loss and nutritional deficiencies)
- Bleeding (low blood count, or anemia)
- Liver problems (jaundice)
What are the risk factors for pancreatitis?
The major risk factors for pancreatitis are excessive alcohol intake and gallstones. Although the definition for excessive alcohol intake can vary from person-to-person, most health-care professionals suggest that moderate consumption is no more than two alcoholic beverages a day for men and one a day for women and the elderly. However, people with pancreatitis secondary to alcohol intake are usually advised to avoid all alcohol intake.
Other risk factors include
- a family history of pancreatitis,
- high levels of fat (triglycerides) in the blood,
- cigarette smoking,
- certain inherited disorders such as cystic fibrosis, and
- taking certain medicines (for example estrogen therapy, diuretics, and tetracycline).
What Are the Causes of Pancreatitis?
Alcohol abuse and gallstones are the two main causes of pancreatitis, accounting for 80% to 90% of all individuals diagnosed with pancreatitis.
Pancreatitis from alcohol use usually occurs in individuals who have been long-term alcohol drinkers for at least five to seven years. Most cases of chronic pancreatitis are due to alcohol abuse. Pancreatitis is often already chronic by the first time the person seeks medical attention (usually for severe pain).
Gallstones form from a buildup of material within the gallbladder, another organ in the abdomen (please see previous illustration). A gallstone can block the pancreatic duct, trapping digestive juices inside the pancreas. Pancreatitis due to gallstones tends to occur most often in women older than 50 years of age.
The remaining 10% to 20% of cases of pancreatitis have various causes, including the following:
- exposure to certain chemicals,
- injury (trauma), as might happen in a car accident or bad fall leading to abdominal trauma,
- hereditary disease,
- surgery and certain medical procedures,
- infections such as mumps (not common),
- abnormalities of the pancreas or intestine, or
- high fat levels in the blood.
In about 15% of cases of acute pancreatitis and 40% of cases of chronic pancreatitis, the cause is never known.
When Should I Contact a Doctor If I Think I May Have Pancreatitis?
In most cases, the pain and nausea associated with pancreatitis are severe enough that a person seeks medical attention from a health-care professional. Any of the following symptoms warrant immediate medical attention:
- Inability to take medication or to drink and eat because of nausea or vomiting
- Severe pain not relieved by nonprescription medications
- Unexplained pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Pain accompanied by fever or chills, persistent vomiting, feeling faint, weakness, or fatigue
- Pain accompanied by presence of other medical conditions, including pregnancy
The health-care professional may tell the person to go to a hospital emergency department. If a person is unable to reach a health-care professional, or if a person’s symptoms worsen after having being examined by a health-care professional, an immediate visit to an emergency department is necessary.
Which Types of Doctors Treat Pancreatitis?
The types of doctors that usually treat pancreatitis are emergency medicine doctors, primary care physicians, internal medicine specialists, hospitalists, critical-care specialists and occasionally gastroenterologists and/or surgeons, depending upon the severity of the disease.
How Is Pancreatitis Diagnosed?
When a health-care professional identifies symptoms suggestive of pancreatitis, specific questions are asked about the person’s symptoms, lifestyle and habits, and medical and surgical history. The answers to these questions and the results of the physical examination allow the health-care professional to rule out some conditions and make the correct diagnosis.
In most cases, laboratory tests are needed. The tests check the functioning of several body systems, including the following:
- Pancreas, liver, and kidney functions (including levels of pancreatic enzymes amylase and lipase)
- Signs of infections, for example, fever or fatigue
- Blood cell counts indicating signs of anemia
- Pregnancy test
- Blood sugar, electrolyte levels (an imbalance suggests dehydration) and calcium level
Results of the blood tests may be inconclusive if the pancreas is still making digestive enzymes and insulin.
Diagnostic imaging tests are usually needed to look for complications of pancreatitis, including gallstones.
Diagnostic imaging tests may include the following:
- X-ray films may be ordered to look for complications of pancreatitis as well as for other causes of discomfort. This may include a chest X-ray.
- A CT scan is like an X-ray film, only much more detailed. A CT scan shows the pancreas and possible complications of pancreatitis in better detail than an X-ray film. A CT scan highlights inflammation or destruction of the pancreas. Occasionally an MRI is ordered.
- Ultrasound is a very good imaging test to examine the gallbladder and the ducts connecting the gallbladder, liver, and pancreas with the small intestine.
- Ultrasound is very good at depicting abnormalities in the biliary system, including gallstones and signs of inflammation or infection.
- Ultrasound uses painless sound waves to create images of organs. Ultrasound is performed by gliding a small handheld device over the abdomen. The ultrasound emits sound waves that “bounce” off the organs and are processed by a computer to create an image. This technique is the same one that is used to look at a fetus in a pregnant woman.
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an imaging test that uses an endoscope (a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera on the end) to view the pancreas and surrounding structures.
- ERCP is usually used only in cases of chronic pancreatitis or in the presence of gallstones.
- To perform an ERCP, a person is first sedated. After sedation, an endoscope is passed through the mouth, to the stomach, and into the small intestine. The device then injects a temporary dye into the ducts connecting the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas with the small intestine (biliary ducts). The dye makes is easier for the health-care professional to see any stones or signs of organ damage. In some cases, a stone can be removed during this test.
Is There a Specific Diet for Pancreatitis?
The diet for people with acute pancreatitis consists of bowel rest for a few days. Bowel rest means no food or liquid intake by mouth. Consequently, patients need to be provided fluids and nutrition intravenously in the hospital while the pancreas is given time to recover. The patient is then slowly advanced to oral intake starting off with clear fluids and then soups.
Patients with chronic pancreatitis are suggested to have a low-fat diet (maximum 20 g/day), high carbohydrates in are advised to eat small sized and more frequent meals (about 5 to 6 per day). If the pancreas develops a flare, the patient should go back to bowel rest for about a day or so but not to become dehydrated by taking oral fluids. If symptoms don’t resolve, medical care should be sought immediately. Patients with either chronic or acute pancreatitis strongly advised not to drink any alcoholic beverages.
Are There Home Remedies That Soothe or Cure Pancreatitis?
For most people, self-care alone is not enough to treat pancreatitis. People may be able to make themselves more comfortable during an attack, but they will most likely continue to have attacks until treatment is received for the underlying cause of the symptoms. If symptoms are mild, people might try the following preventive measures:
- Stop all alcohol consumption.
- Adopt a liquid diet consisting of foods such as broth, gelatin, and soups. These simple foods may allow the inflammation process to get better.
- Over-the-counter pain medications may also help. Avoid pain medications that can affect the liver such as acetaminophen (Tylenol and others). In individuals with pancreatitis due to alcohol use, the liver is usually also affected by the alcohol.
What Is the Medical Treatment for Acute Pancreatitis?
In acute pancreatitis, the choice of treatment is based on the severity of the attack. If no complications are present, care usually focuses on relieving symptoms and supporting body functions so that the pancreas can recover.
- Most people who are having an attack of acute pancreatitis are admitted to the hospital.
- Those people who are having trouble breathing are given oxygen.
- An IV (intravenous) line is started, usually in the arm. The IV line is used to give medications and fluids. The fluids replace water lost from vomiting or from the inability to take in fluids, helping the person to feel better.
- If needed, medications for pain and nausea are prescribed.
- Antibiotics are given if the health-care professional suspects an infection may be present.
- No food or liquid should be taken by mouth for a few days. This is called bowel rest. By refraining from food or liquid intake, the intestinal tract and pancreas are given a chance to start healing.
- Some people may need a nasogastric (NG) tube. The thin, flexible plastic tube is inserted through the nose and down into the stomach to suck out the stomach juices. This suction of the stomach juices rests the intestine further, helping the pancreas recover.
- If the attack lasts longer than a few days, nutritional supplements are administered through an IV line.
What Is the Medical Treatment for Chronic Pancreatitis?
In chronic pancreatitis, treatment focuses on relieving pain and avoiding further aggravation to the pancreas. Another focus is to maximize a person’s ability to eat and digest food.
- Unless people have severe complications or a very severe episode, they probably do not have to stay in the hospital.
- Medication is prescribed for severe pain.
- A high carbohydrate, low fat diet; and eating smaller more frequent meals help prevent aggravating the pancreas. If a person has trouble with this diet, pancreatic enzymes in pill form may be given to help digest the food.
- People diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis are strongly advised to stop drinking alcohol.
- If the pancreas does not produce sufficient insulin, the body needs to regulate its blood sugar, and insulin injections may be necessary.
What about Surgery for Pancreatitis?
If the pancreatitis is caused by gallstones, an operation to have the gallbladder and gallstones removed (cholecystectomy) is likely.
If certain complications (for example, enlargement or severe injury of the pancreas, bleeding, pseudocysts, or abscess) develop, surgery may be needed to drain, repair, or remove the affected tissues.
Can Pancreatitis Be Prevented?
The following recommendations may help to prevent further attacks or to keep them mild:
- Completely eliminate alcohol because it is the only way to reduce the chance of further attacks in cases of pancreatitis caused by alcohol use, to prevent the pancreatitis from worsening, and to prevent the development of complications that can be very serious or even fatal.
- Eat small frequent meals. If in the process of having an attack, avoid solid foods for several days to give the pancreas a chance to recover.
- Eat a balanced diet high in carbohydrates and low in fats because may help individuals decrease the risk for pancreatitis since it is likely these actions will decrease the risk for gallstones, a major risk factor for pancreatitis.
- If pancreatitis is due to chemical exposure or medications, the source of the exposure will need to be found and stopped, and the medication will need to be discontinued.
- Don’t smoke
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Exercise regularly
What Is the Outlook for a Person Who Has Pancreatitis?
Most people with acute pancreatitis recover completely from their illness unless they develop necrotizing pancreatitis. The pancreas returns to normal with no long-term effects. Pancreatitis may return, however, if the underlying cause is not eliminated.
Some 5%-10% of people develop life-threatening pancreatitis and may be left with any of these chronic illnesses, or even die due to complications of pancreatitis:
- Kidney failure
- Breathing difficulties
- Brain damage
Chronic pancreatitis does not resolve completely between attacks. Although the symptoms may be similar to those of acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis is a much more serious condition because damage to the pancreas is an ongoing process. This ongoing damage can have any of the following complications:
- Bleeding in or around the pancreas: Ongoing inflammation and damage to the blood vessels surrounding the pancreas can lead to bleeding. Fast bleeding can be a life-threatening condition. Slow bleeding usually leads to low red blood cell count (anemia).
- Infection: Ongoing inflammation makes the tissue vulnerable to infection. The infection can form an abscess that is very difficult to treat without surgery.
- Pseudocysts: Small fluid-filled sacs can form in the pancreas as a result of ongoing damage. These sacs can become infected or rupture into the lower abdominal cavity (peritoneum), causing a serious infection called peritonitis.
- Breathing problems: The chemical changes in the body can affect the lungs. The effect is to reduce the amount of oxygen the lungs can absorb from the air a person breathes. The level of oxygen in the blood drops to lower than normal (hypoxia).
- Pancreas failure: The pancreas may become so severely damaged that it is unable to carry out its normal functions. Digestion of food and regulation of blood sugar – both very important functions – are affected. Diabetes and weight loss often result.
- Pancreatic cancer: Chronic pancreatitis can encourage the growth of abnormal cells in the pancreas, which can become cancer. The prognosis for pancreatic cancer is very poor.
Reviewed on 8/19/2022
Huffman, J., MD. “Chronic Pancreatitis.” Medscape. Updated Apr 4, 2015
The National Pancreas Foundation. Nutrition Advice and Recipes.
Mambo ya hakika kuhusu Pancreatitis ya Kimbunga na ya Muda Mrefu Mfano wa kongosho ya binadamu. Pancreatitis humaanisha tu uvimbe wa kongosho. Kuna aina mbili za ugonjwa wa kongosho, ugonjwa wa ghafula na ugonjwa wa kudumu. Ugonjwa wa kongosho wa muda mrefu (pancreatitis) huanza kwa sababu ya maumivu ya tumbo katika sehemu ya kati au juu ya kushoto ya tumbo, na maumivu ya tumbo yanaweza kuongezeka baada ya kula au kulala nyuma. Dalili za ugonjwa wa kongosho wa kukata moyo waweza kuonyesha mabadiliko ya rangi ya ngozi karibu na tumbo au upande wa mwili kati ya mbavu na kiuno (mzunguko), au nodules ndogo za ngozi zenye rangi nyekundu. - Pancreatitis necrotizing ni aina kali ya pancreatitis kali sifa na necrosis ndani na karibu na kongosho. Dalili za ugonjwa wa kongosho wa muda mrefu zinaweza kujumuisha maumivu ya tumbo ambayo yanaweza kujumuisha - Utambuzi wa ugonjwa wa kongosho (mchanganyiko na wa muda mrefu) hufanywa kwa njia sawa. Historia ya mgonjwa itachukuliwa, uchunguzi wa kimwili utafanywa, na uchunguzi mbalimbali waweza kuamriwa. Ingawa pancreatitis kali haipaswi kutibiwa nyumbani mwanzoni, kuna hatua zinazoweza kusaidia kuzuia au kupunguza dalili. Vipengele vya hatari vya ugonjwa wa kongosho ni matumizi makubwa ya pombe na historia ya mawe ya gall; husababisha karibu 80% -90% ya ugonjwa wa kongosho; sababu nyingine kama vile urithi na dawa zinaweza kuongeza hatari ya mtu binafsi. - Matibabu ya pancreatitis kali hufanywa kulingana na kisababishi. Katika kesi nyingi, ugonjwa wa kongosho hutibiwa katika hospitali au lengo ni kupunguza dalili katika kusaidia kazi za mwili ili kongosho iweze kupona kutoka kwa uvimbe (kama uvimbe unasababishwa na maambukizo, dawa za kuua viini hutolewa). - Matibabu ya ugonjwa wa kongosho ya muda mrefu mara nyingi hutibiwa kwa dawa za kupunguza maumivu, mabadiliko ya mlo. Baadhi ya wagonjwa wanaweza kuhitaji enzymes ya kongosho kwa njia ya mdomo katika fomu ya kidonge kusaidia kumeng'enya chakula na wengine wanaweza kuhitaji insulini. Wagonjwa wote wenye ugonjwa wa kongosho wanashauriwa sana waache kunywa kileo. - Matibabu ya upasuaji ya pancreatitis yanaweza kutumiwa kuondoa mawe ya bile na kibofu cha bile au kasoro katika kongosho. Chakula cha pancreatic ni chakula cha chini ya mafuta, sio zaidi ya 20g kwa siku, hakuna pombe, lakini maji mengi, na kwa flares ya pancreatitis ya muda mrefu, maji safi tu bila chakula yanaweza kupendekezwa kwa masaa 24-48 - Pancreatitis inaweza kupunguzwa au kuzuiwa kwa kuacha matumizi ya pombe; uingiliaji wa mapema ili kuzuia matatizo ya mawe ya kibofu pia unaweza kupunguza nafasi ya kuendeleza pancreatitis. Karibu 90% - 95% ya wagonjwa waliotibiwa kwa pancreatitis kali wanaweza kupona kabisa ikiwa sababu ya msingi kama vile pombe au maambukizo hutibiwa vizuri. - Watu wengine wanaweza kuendeleza pancreatitis ya muda mrefu au kufa kutokana na matatizo kama vile kushindwa kwa figo, kisukari, matatizo ya kupumua na au uharibifu wa ubongo. Matarajio ya mtu mwenye ugonjwa wa kongosho sugu si mazuri kama ya mtu mwenye ugonjwa wa kongosho kali. Ugonjwa wa Matumbo ni Nini? Panya (Pancreas) ni sehemu ya juu ya tumbo. Inatengeneza aina mbili kuu za vitu: maji ya kumeng'enya chakula na homoni za kumeng'enya chakula. Uvimbe wa kongosho huitwa pancreatitis na uvimbe wake una visababishi mbalimbali. Mara tu tezi hiyo inapowaka, hali hiyo yaweza kuenea na kuharibika na kuharibika kwa tezi hiyo na mishipa ya damu inayoizunguka, kutokwa na damu, maambukizo, na kuharibiwa kwa tezi hiyo. Huko, maji ya utumbo hufungwa na kuanza "kuyachoma" kongosho yenyewe. Uharibifu huo ukidumu, huenda kibofu hicho kisingeweza kufanya kazi zake za kawaida. Pancreatitis inaweza kuwa kali (mpya, ya muda mfupi) au ya muda mrefu (ya kuendelea, ya muda mrefu). Aina zote mbili za ugonjwa huo zinaweza kuwa mbaya sana, na hata kuhatarisha uhai. Aina zote mbili za ugonjwa huo zaweza kusababisha matatizo makubwa. - Ugonjwa wa kongosho wa haraka kwa kawaida huanza muda mfupi baada ya uharibifu wa kongosho kuanza. Kwa kawaida, mashambulizi hayo ni madogo sana, lakini karibu asilimia 20 ya mashambulizi hayo ni makali sana. Shambulio hilo huendelea kwa muda mfupi na kwa kawaida hupona kabisa wakati kongosho linaporudi katika hali yake ya kawaida. Watu wengine wana mashambulizi moja tu, wakati wengine wana mashambulizi zaidi ya moja, lakini kongosho daima hurudi kwa hali yake ya kawaida isipokuwa pancreatitis necrotizing huendelea na inakuwa hatari kwa maisha. - Ugonjwa wa kongosho wa kudumu huanza kama ugonjwa wa kongosho wa haraka. Ikiwa kongosho inakuwa na makovu wakati wa shambulio la pancreatitis kali, haiwezi kurudi katika hali yake ya kawaida. Uharibifu wa tezi hiyo unaendelea, na unazidi kuwa mbaya kadiri wakati unavyopita. Ugonjwa wa pancreatitis ya kina unaoripotiwa kila mwaka ni kati ya 4.9 na 80 kwa kila watu 100,000. Kila mwaka, watu 80,000 nchini Marekani hupata ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa kongosho. Pancreatitis inaweza kutokea kwa watu wa umri wote, ingawa ni nadra sana kwa watoto. Pancreatitis hutokea kwa wanaume na wanawake, ingawa pancreatitis sugu ni ya kawaida zaidi kwa wanaume kuliko kwa wanawake. Dalili za Ugonjwa wa Pancreatitis wa Kiakili Ni Zipi? Dalili ya kawaida ya ugonjwa wa kongosho au maumivu ya kongosho ni maumivu ya tumbo. Karibu kila mtu aliye na ugonjwa wa kongosho kali hupatwa na maumivu ya tumbo. - Maumivu yanaweza kutokea ghafula au kuongezeka hatua kwa hatua. Ikiwa maumivu huanza ghafula, kwa kawaida ni makali sana. Ikiwa maumivu hayo huongezeka hatua kwa hatua, huanza kuwa laini lakini yanaweza kuwa makali. - Kwa kawaida maumivu hayo huanza sehemu ya juu ya katikati au sehemu ya juu ya kushoto ya tumbo (tumbo). Mara nyingi maumivu hayo hufafanuliwa kana kwamba yanatoka mbele ya tumbo hadi nyuma. - Mara nyingi maumivu huanza au kuzidi baada ya kula. - Kwa kawaida maumivu hayo hudumu kwa siku chache. - Maumivu yaweza kuhisi kuwa mabaya zaidi mtu anapolala juu ya mgongo wake. Kwa kawaida watu walio na ugonjwa wa kongosho wa ghafula huhisi mgonjwa sana. Mbali na maumivu, watu wanaweza kuwa na dalili na dalili nyinginezo. - Ugonjwa wa kichefuchefu (Watu fulani hutoka, lakini kutapika hakupunguzi dalili.) - Homa, baridi, au zote mbili - Tumbo lililo uvimbe ambalo ni nyeti kwa kugusa - Kupiga kwa moyo kwa kasi (Kupiga kwa moyo kwa kasi kunaweza kusababishwa na maumivu na homa, upungufu wa maji kutokana na kutapika na kutokula, au inaweza kuwa utaratibu wa fidia ikiwa mtu ana damu ya ndani.) Katika kesi kali sana na maambukizi au kutokwa na damu, mtu anaweza kuwa na dehydration na shinikizo la chini la damu, pamoja na dalili zifuatazo: - Udhaifu au hisia ya uchovu (uchovu) - Hisia ya lightheaded au faint - Mvurugo au ugumu wa kuzingatia - Cullen' s ishara (sura bluu karibu na tumbo) - Grey-Turner ishara (mwanga-kahawia ngozi discoloration kando pande) - Erythematic nodules ngozi. Hali hii hatari sana huitwa mshtuko wa mzunguko wa damu na huitwa mshtuko tu. Ugonjwa mkubwa wa kongosho ni dharura ya kitiba. Dalili za Ugonjwa wa Matumbo ya Maziwa ya Mti wa Mti wa Mti wa Mti wa Mti wa Mti wa Mti wa Mti wa Mti wa Mti wa Mti wa Mti wa Mti wa Mti wa Mti wa Mti wa Mti wa Mti wa Mti wa Mti wa Mti wa Mti? Maumivu si ya kawaida katika pancreatitis sugu kuliko katika pancreatitis kali. Watu fulani huumia, lakini watu wengi hawaoni maumivu ya tumbo. Kwa wale ambao wana maumivu, maumivu ni ya kawaida mara kwa mara na inaweza kuwa disabling; hata hivyo, maumivu mara nyingi huenda mbali kama hali mbaya. Ukosefu huo wa maumivu ni ishara mbaya kwa sababu yaelekea humaanisha kwamba kongosho imeacha kufanya kazi. Ugonjwa wa kongosho unaoendelea kwa muda mrefu huathiri pia matatizo ya ini, kama vile: - Kutokuwa na uwezo wa kutengeneza insulini (ukimwi) - Kutokuwa na uwezo wa kumeng'enya chakula (kupoteza uzito na upungufu wa virutubisho) - Kutokwa na damu (kupungua kwa hesabu ya damu, au upungufu wa damu) - Matatizo ya ini (kijani). Sababu kuu za hatari ya ugonjwa wa kongosho ni kunywa kileo kupita kiasi na kuganda kwa mawe ya shingo. Ingawa ufafanuzi wa unywaji kupita kiasi wa kileo unaweza kutofautiana kutoka kwa mtu mmoja hadi mwingine, wataalamu wengi wa huduma za afya wanapendekeza kwamba unywaji wa wastani ni kinywaji zaidi ya mbili kwa siku kwa wanaume na moja kwa siku kwa wanawake na wazee. Hata hivyo, watu walio na pancreatitis ya sekondari kwa sababu ya kunywa kileo kwa kawaida wanashauriwa kuepuka kunywa kileo chote. Sababu nyingine za hatari ni pamoja na - historia ya familia ya pancreatitis, - viwango vya juu vya mafuta (triglycerides) katika damu, - kuvuta sigara, - baadhi ya magonjwa ya urithi kama vile cystic fibrosis, na - kuchukua dawa fulani (kwa mfano estrogen tiba, diuretics, na tetracycline). Ni Nini Husababisha Ugonjwa wa Pancreatitis? Matumizi mabaya ya pombe na mawe ya chembechembe ni sababu kuu za ugonjwa wa pancreatitis, na huwakilisha asilimia 80 hadi 90 ya watu wote waliogunduliwa na ugonjwa huo. Ugonjwa wa kongosho unaosababishwa na kunywa pombe kwa kawaida hutokea kwa watu ambao wamekuwa wakinywa pombe kwa muda mrefu kwa angalau miaka mitano hadi saba. Matukio mengi ya ugonjwa wa kongosho husababishwa na kutumia kileo vibaya. Mara nyingi ugonjwa wa kongosho huwa umedumu wakati mtu anapotafuta matibabu kwa mara ya kwanza (kwa kawaida kwa sababu ya maumivu makali). Mawe ya chembe ya umajimaji hutokea kwa sababu ya kuunganika kwa vitu katika chembe ya umajimaji, ambayo ni kiungo kingine cha tumbo (tazama picha iliyo hapo juu). Jiwe la shingo laweza kuzuia mfereji wa kongosho, na hivyo kufungia maji ya tumbo ndani ya kongosho. Pancreatitis inayosababishwa na mawe ya chembechembe ya chembe huonekana mara nyingi kwa wanawake wenye umri wa miaka 50 na zaidi. Matokeo ya 10% hadi 20% ya kesi za pancreatitis ni sababu za: - kuambukizwa na kemikali fulani, - majeraha (majeraha), kama vile inaweza kutokea katika ajali ya gari au kuanguka mbaya na kusababisha majeraha ya tumbo, - ugonjwa wa urithi, - upasuaji na taratibu fulani za matibabu, - maambukizi kama vile mumps (si ya kawaida), - kasoro ya kongosho au matumbo, au - viwango vya juu vya mafuta katika damu. Katika asilimia 15 ya maambukizi ya kongosho na asilimia 40 ya maambukizi ya kongosho, sababu ya ugonjwa huo haijulikani. Ni Wakati Gani Wenye Kupaswa Kumtembelea Daktari Ikiwa Ninafikiri Ninaweza Kuwa na Uvimbe wa Matumbo? Katika visa vingi, maumivu na kichefuchefu vinavyohusiana na ugonjwa wa kongosho ni vikali vya kutosha hivi kwamba mtu hutafuta matibabu kutoka kwa mtaalamu wa huduma za afya. "Hata hivyo, dalili zifuatazo zinahitaji matibabu ya haraka: ""Kutokuwa na uwezo wa kula au kunywa kwa sababu ya kichefuchefu au kutapika, maumivu makali yasiyopunguzwa na dawa zisizo na dawa, maumivu yasiyoelezeka, shida ya kupumua, maumivu yanayoambatana na homa au baridi, kutapika kwa kuendelea, kukosa nguvu, au uchovu, maumivu yanayoambatana na hali nyingine za matibabu, ikiwa ni pamoja na ujauzito.""" Ikiwa mtu hawezi kufikia mtaalamu wa huduma za afya, au dalili za mtu zinazidi kuwa mbaya baada ya kuchunguzwa na mtaalamu wa huduma za afya, ni muhimu kutembelea mara moja idara ya dharura. Ni Aina Zipi za Madaktari Wanaozaliana na Pancreatitis? Madaktari wanaotumia matibabu ya ugonjwa wa kongosho ni madaktari wa matibabu ya dharura, madaktari wa huduma ya msingi, wataalamu wa matibabu ya ndani, madaktari wa hospitali, wataalamu wa huduma muhimu na mara kwa mara wataalamu wa gastroenterolojia na madaktari wa upasuaji, kulingana na uzito wa ugonjwa. Ugonjwa wa Pancreatitis Hupimwaje? Wakati mtaalamu wa huduma ya afya anatambua dalili za pancreatitis, maswali maalum huulizwa kuhusu dalili za mtu, mtindo wa maisha na tabia, na historia ya matibabu na upasuaji. Majibu ya maswali haya na matokeo ya uchunguzi wa kimwili humwezesha mtaalamu wa huduma za afya kuondoa hali fulani na kufanya utambuzi sahihi. Katika visa vingi, uchunguzi wa maabara huhitajiwa. Mtihani huu unachunguza utendaji wa mifumo kadhaa ya mwili, ikiwa ni pamoja na: - Pancreas, ini, na figo (ikiwa ni pamoja na viwango vya amylase na lipase ya pancreatic) - Ishara za maambukizo, kwa mfano, homa au uchovu - Hesabu ya seli za damu inayoonyesha dalili za upungufu wa damu - Mtihani wa ujauzito - Kiwango cha sukari ya damu, kiwango cha electrolyte (kutoweza kusababisha dehydration) na kiwango cha kalsiamu. Kwa kawaida vipimo vya upimaji wa picha zinahitajika ili kutafuta matatizo ya pancreatitis, kutia ndani mawe ya shingo. Uchunguzi wa upimaji wa picha unaweza kujumuisha yafuatayo: - Filamu za X-ray zinaweza kuamriwa kutafuta matatizo ya pancreatitis na vilevile sababu nyingine za usumbufu. Hilo laweza kutia ndani uchunguzi wa X-ray wa kifua. - Uchunguzi wa CT ni kama filamu ya X-ray, lakini ni wa kina zaidi. CT scan huonyesha kongosho na matatizo yanayoweza kutokea kwa sababu ya ugonjwa wa kongosho kwa undani zaidi kuliko picha ya X-ray. Uchunguzi wa CT huonyesha kwamba kuna uvimbe au uharibifu wa kongosho. Nyakati nyingine MRI huamriwa. Ultrasound ni njia nzuri ya kuchunguza chembe za umajimaji na mifereji inayounganisha chembe za umajimaji, ini, na kongosho na matumbo madogo. - Ultrasound ni nzuri sana katika kuelezea kasoro katika mfumo wa bileary, ikiwa ni pamoja na mawe ya bile na ishara ya uchochezi au maambukizo. - Ultrasound hutumia mawimbi ya sauti yasiyo na maumivu ili kutokeza picha za viungo. Ultrasound hufanywa kwa kuingiza kifaa kidogo cha mkono juu ya tumbo. Ultrasound hutokeza mawimbi ya sauti ambayo "hutikisika" kutoka kwa viungo na kusindika na kompyuta ili kutokeza picha. Mbinu hiyo hiyo hutumiwa pia kuchunguza mimba ya mwanamke mjamzito. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) ni mtihani wa picha unaotumia endoscope (bomba nyembamba, laini na kamera ndogo mwishoni) kuona kongosho na miundo inayoizunguka. - ERCP hutumiwa kwa kawaida tu katika kesi za pancreatitis sugu au kwa uwepo wa mawe ya bile. Ili kufanya ERCP, mtu hutiwa dawa ya kutuliza kwanza. Baada ya kutuliza, endoscope hupitishwa kupitia kinywa, kwenye tumbo, na ndani ya matumbo madogo. Kisha kifaa hicho huingiza rangi ya muda katika mifereji inayounganisha ini, kibofu cha ndoo, na kongosho na matumbo madogo (mishipa ya bile). Rangi hiyo hufanya iwe rahisi kwa mtaalamu wa utunzaji wa afya kuona mawe yoyote au ishara za uharibifu wa viungo. Katika visa fulani, jiwe laweza kuondolewa wakati wa mtihani huo. Je, Kuna Mlo Maalum kwa ajili ya Ugonjwa wa Pancreatitis? Chakula cha watu wenye ugonjwa wa kongosho ni kupumzika kwa matumbo kwa siku chache. Kupumzika kwa matumbo humaanisha kutokula chakula au kunywa maji kupitia kinywa. Kwa hiyo, wagonjwa wanahitaji kupewa kioevu na lishe kupitia mshipa wa damu hospitalini huku kongosho likipewa wakati wa kupona. Kisha mgonjwa hupitishwa polepole kwenye ulaji wa mdomo kuanzia na umajimaji wazi na kisha supu. Kwa wagonjwa wa ugonjwa wa kongosho, inashauriwa kuwa na lishe ya chini ya mafuta (kiwango cha juu cha 20 g kwa siku), na chakula cha juu cha wanga, na kula chakula kidogo na mara kwa mara (karibu 5-6 kwa siku). Ikiwa ugonjwa wa kongosho unaongezeka, mgonjwa anapaswa kurudi kwenye mapumziko ya matumbo kwa siku moja au zaidi lakini asiwe na ukosefu wa maji kwa kuchukua umajimaji wa mdomo. Ikiwa dalili hazipungua, matibabu yanapaswa kutafutwa mara moja. Wagonjwa walio na ugonjwa wa kongosho wa kudumu au wa haraka wanashauriwa vikali wasinywe vinywaji vyovyote vyenye kileo. Je, Kuna Dawa za Nyumbani Zinazopunguza au Kuponya Ugonjwa wa Pancreatitis? Kwa watu wengi, kujitunza peke yake hakutoshi kutibu ugonjwa wa kongosho. Watu wanaweza kujirekebisha wakati wa shambulio, lakini huenda wakaendelea kuwa na shambulio hadi matibabu yatakapopatikana kwa sababu ya dalili. Ikiwa dalili ni nyepesi, watu wanaweza kujaribu hatua zifuatazo za kuzuia: - Acha kunywa pombe kabisa. - Chukua chakula chenye umajimaji chenye vyakula kama vile mchuzi, gelatin, na supu. Vyakula hivyo rahisi vinaweza kufanya mchakato wa uvimbe upate nafuu. - Dawa za kupunguza maumivu zinazopatikana bila dawa za dawa za kulevya zaweza pia kusaidia. Epuka dawa za maumivu ambazo zinaweza kuathiri ini kama vile acetaminophen (Tylenol na wengine). Katika watu walio na pancreatitis kwa sababu ya kutumia kileo, ini kwa kawaida huathiriwa pia na kileo. Matibabu ya Ugonjwa wa Pancreatitis ya Kiakili Ni Yapi? Katika ugonjwa wa kongosho, matibabu huchaguliwa kulingana na uzito wa shambulio hilo. Ikiwa hakuna matatizo, matibabu ya kawaida huelekezwa kwa kupunguza dalili na kusaidia kazi za mwili ili kongosho iweze kupona. - Watu wengi wanaopata mshtuko wa ugonjwa wa kongosho wa haraka wanalazwa hospitalini. - Watu hao ambao wana shida ya kupumua wanapewa oksijeni. - Mstari wa IV (intravenous) huanzishwa, kwa kawaida katika mkono. Mstari wa IV hutumiwa kutoa dawa na umajimaji. Kinywaji hicho huchukua nafasi ya maji yaliyopotea kutokana na kutapika au kutokana na kukosa uwezo wa kunywa maji, na hivyo kumsaidia mtu huyo kuhisi vizuri. - Ikiwa ni lazima, dawa za maumivu na kichefuchefu huagizwa. - Dawa za kuua viini hutolewa ikiwa mtaalamu wa huduma ya afya anashuku kwamba huenda kukawa na maambukizo. - Hakuna chakula au kioevu kinachopaswa kuchukuliwa kwa mdomo kwa siku chache. Hii inaitwa kupumzika kwa matumbo. Kwa kuepuka kula au kunywa maji, mfumo wa matumbo na kongosho hupata nafasi ya kuanza kupona. - Watu wengine wanaweza kuhitaji bomba la nasogastric (NG). Bomba hilo nyembamba la plastiki huingizwa kupitia pua na kuingia ndani ya tumbo ili kunyonya maji ya tumbo. Uchochezi huo wa maji ya tumbo hufanya matumbo yapumzike zaidi, na hivyo kusaidia kongosho kupona. - Ikiwa shambulio hilo linaendelea kwa muda mrefu kuliko siku chache, virutubisho vya lishe hutolewa kupitia njia ya IV. Matibabu ya Ugonjwa wa Matumbo ya Maziwa ya Muda Mrefu Ni Yapi? Katika ugonjwa wa kongosho sugu, matibabu huzingatia kupunguza maumivu na kuepuka kuzidi kuharibu kongosho. Lengo jingine ni kuongeza uwezo wa mtu wa kula na kumeng'enya chakula. - Isipokuwa watu wana matatizo makubwa au tukio kali sana, huenda wasiwe na haja ya kukaa hospitalini. - Dawa huagizwa kwa ajili ya maumivu makali. - Chakula chenye wanga mwingi na mafuta machache; na kula chakula kidogo mara nyingi zaidi husaidia kuzuia ugonjwa wa kongosho usisababishwe. Ikiwa mtu ana matatizo na lishe hii, enzymes za kongosho katika fomu ya kidonge zinaweza kutolewa ili kusaidia kumeng'enya chakula. - Watu waliogunduliwa kuwa na ugonjwa wa kongosho wa kudumu wanashauriwa sana waache kunywa kileo. - Kama kongosho haizalishi insulini ya kutosha, mwili unahitaji kudhibiti sukari yake ya damu, na sindano za insulini zinaweza kuwa muhimu. Namna gani upasuaji wa ugonjwa wa kongosho? Ikiwa ugonjwa wa kongosho unasababishwa na mawe ya shingo, huenda upasuaji wa kuondoa kibofu cha shingo na mawe ya shingo (cholecystectomy) ukafanywa. Ikiwa kuna matatizo fulani (kwa mfano, upanuzi au jeraha kubwa la kongosho, kutokwa na damu, pseudocysts, au abscess) hutokea, upasuaji waweza kuhitajiwa ili kuondoa, kurekebisha, au kuondoa tishu zilizoathiriwa. Je, Inaweza Kuzuiliwa Ugonjwa wa Pancreatitis? Mapendekezo yafuatayo yanaweza kusaidia kuzuia mashambulizi zaidi au kuyaweka chini: Kuondoa kabisa pombe kwa sababu ndiyo njia pekee ya kupunguza uwezekano wa mashambulizi zaidi katika kesi za pancreatitis inayosababishwa na matumizi ya pombe, kuzuia pancreatitis isizidi kuwa mbaya, na kuzuia maendeleo ya matatizo ambayo yanaweza kuwa makubwa sana au hata ya kuua. - Kula chakula kidogo mara kwa mara. Ikiwa una mlipuko wa ugonjwa wa kifua kikuu, epuka kula chakula kigumu kwa siku kadhaa ili kuwezesha kongosho kupona. - Kula chakula cha usawa na cha juu katika wanga na chini katika mafuta kwa sababu inaweza kusaidia watu kupunguza hatari ya pancreatitis tangu ni uwezekano hatua hizi kupunguza hatari ya gallstones, sababu kuu ya hatari ya pancreatitis. Ikiwa pancreatitis ni kutokana na mfiduo wa kemikali au dawa, chanzo cha mfiduo kitahitaji kupatikana na kusimamishwa, na dawa itahitaji kusimamishwa. - Usivimbe sigareti - Weka uzito wa afya - Fanya mazoezi kwa ukawaida Ni nini kinachoweza kumtokea mtu aliye na ugonjwa wa kongosho? Watu wengi walio na ugonjwa wa kongosho wa ghafula hupona kabisa isipokuwa wanapata ugonjwa wa kongosho unaosababisha kifo. Mkojo hurudi kwa kawaida bila athari za muda mrefu. Hata hivyo, ugonjwa wa kongosho waweza kurudi ikiwa kisababishi kikuu hakijaharibiwa. Karibu asilimia 5 hadi 10 ya watu hupata ugonjwa wa kongosho unaohatarisha maisha na wanaweza kuachwa na magonjwa yoyote ya muda mrefu, au hata kufa kutokana na matatizo ya ugonjwa wa kongosho: - Kushindwa kwa figo - Ugumu wa kupumua - Uharibifu wa ubongo - Ugonjwa wa kongosho sugu hauponyeki kabisa kati ya mashambulizi. Ingawa dalili za ugonjwa huo zinaweza kuwa sawa na zile za ugonjwa wa kongosho, ugonjwa wa kongosho ni mbaya zaidi kwa sababu ugonjwa wa kongosho ni mchakato unaoendelea. Uharibifu huu unaoendelea unaweza kuwa na matatizo yoyote yafuatayo: - Kutokwa na damu ndani au karibu na kongosho: Uvimbe unaoendelea na uharibifu wa mishipa ya damu inayozunguka kongosho inaweza kusababisha kutokwa na damu. Kutokwa na damu kwa haraka kunaweza kuhatarisha uhai. Kwa kawaida kutokwa na damu polepole husababisha idadi ya chembe nyekundu za damu kupungua (upungufu wa damu). - Maambukizo: Uvimbe unaoendelea hufanya tishu iwe rahisi kuambukizwa. Maambukizo hayo yanaweza kutokeza uvimbe ambao ni vigumu sana kutibu bila upasuaji. - Pseudocysts: mifuko midogo iliyojaa umajimaji yaweza kuundwa katika kongosho kwa sababu ya uharibifu unaoendelea. Mifuko hiyo inaweza kuambukizwa au kuvunjika katika sehemu ya chini ya tumbo (peritoneum), na kusababisha maambukizo mabaya yanayoitwa peritonitis. - Matatizo ya kupumua: Mabadiliko ya kemikali katika mwili yanaweza kuathiri mapafu. Matokeo ni kupunguza kiasi cha oksijeni ambacho mapafu yanaweza kunyonya kutoka kwa hewa ambayo mtu hupumua. Kiwango cha oksijeni katika damu hupungua hadi chini ya kawaida (hypoxia). - Kushindwa kwa kongosho: Kongosho laweza kuharibiwa sana hivi kwamba haliwezi kufanya kazi zake za kawaida. Upasuaji wa chakula na udhibiti wa sukari ya damu - kazi zote mbili muhimu sana - huathiriwa. Ugonjwa wa kisukari na kupoteza uzito mara nyingi husababisha. - Saratani ya kongosho: Ugonjwa wa kongosho wa kudumu waweza kuchochea ukuzi wa chembe zisizo za kawaida katika kongosho, ambazo zaweza kuwa kansa. Matarajio ya kansa ya kongosho ni mabaya sana. "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika makala ya ""Mwanzoni mwa mwaka wa 2020,"" Huffman, J., MD." <unk>Chronic Pancreatitis. <unk> Medscape. Utafiti wa Aprili 4, 2015 wa Shirika la Pancreas la Kitaifa Mashauri ya Lishe na Mapishi.