Causes of pancreatitis in adults
Inflammation of the pancreasThe gland can be both acute and chronic. In this case, pancreatitis develops, the causes of which may be different.
Causes of Acute Process
Acute pancreatitis in adults often develops under the influence of an existing acute or chronic biliary tract disease. Most often this occurs with cholelithiasis. Also, the cause may be the presence of calculous cholecystitis.
Inflammation of the gland is often noted against a backdrop of certain errors in nutrition.
In particular, excessive fondness for fatty, sharp and fried foods can lead to acute pancreatitis.
All these products cause increased activity of pancreatic enzymes, which leads to an inflammatory process.
The activity of the gland is also impaired as a result of alcohol abuse. In this case, it is possible to develop both an acute process( with a single excessive use of alcohol) and a chronic process in the gland( if alcohol is taken for a long time).
Also the cause of an acute process can be a blunt abdominal injury.
The presence of an infectious disease( viral hepatitis, dysentery), poisoning( chemical and food) can provoke an inflammatory process in the pancreas.
Allocate and so-called drug pancreatitis, the causes of which lie in an overdose of certain drugs. In particular, corticosteroids, azathioprine, thiazides are a negative effect on the gland.
Causes of the chronic process
Chronic inflammation in adults can develop due to alcohol abuse. With prolonged entrainment with these drinks, alcohol intoxication occurs, as a result of which the parenchyma of the pancreas is affected. The risk of developing pancreatitis is especially high when the factor of alcohol abuse and fatty foods is combined.
Diseases of the stomach and duodenum, having a chronic course, can also cause pancreatitis. In this case, the deficiency of the sphincter of Oddi develops, which leads to the fact that some of the contents from the duodenum can enter the pancreas and cause inflammation there.
Alcoholic pancreatitis
Alcoholic pancreatitis in adults can develop both because of the systematic abuse of alcoholic beverages, and due to a one-time use in large quantities. In the first case, the process is most often chronic, and in the second case, development of acute pancreatitis can be noted.
Biliary pancreatitis
This type of pancreatitis develops due to the presence of such a disease as cholelithiasis. Due to the existing dysfunctions in the gall bladder, it is possible for bile to enter the pancreas. In a healthy state, the level of pressure in the ducts of the gland is higher than in the bile ducts, so that conditions for the pathological injection of bile are not created. This pressure can change due to the fact that an obstacle is formed on the way out of the bile( for example, if there is a stone in the gallbladder or ducts).
It is also possible to provoke the development of biliary pancreatitis and errors in food. If there is a chronic course of cholelithiasis, then under the influence of excessive consumption of fatty foods, stimulation of the digestive processes may occur, leading to acute pancreatitis.
A provoking factor in the development of this disease may be a violation in the work of the sphincter of Oddi. Normally, he regulates the operation of the pancreas and prevents the ingress of bile into this organ.
The presence of stones in the gallbladder disrupts the outflow of bile and creates favorable conditions for the appearance of inflammation of the pancreas. In this case, the size of the stone matters. If it has a small size, then it is likely that the stone will go unimpeded into the duodenum, which can improve the patient's condition. With large gallstones, complete blockage occurs, and therefore clinical manifestations are more pronounced. Often, this condition requires urgent surgical intervention.
Pathogenesis of inflammation
The process of development of pancreatitis in adults can differ in different forms of this disease. Consider it on an example of an acute process in the pancreas.
The following factors are of major importance for this: :
- increased secretion of pancreatic juice;
- increase in pressure in the ducts of the gland;
- intra-enzyme activation of enzymes.
All of these together lead to autolysis of pancreatic tissue.
Increased secretion of gland juice can be provoked by excessive consumption of fatty foods. Also, the provoking factor in adults may be excessive consumption of alcohol, under the influence of which spasm of the sphincter of Oddi occurs, resulting in increased pressure in the ducts of the gland. Excessive secretion of the pancreatic juice also leads to an increase in pressure in the ducts. The result is an increase in the permeability of the gland cells and the ingress of juice into the cells.
Another starting point can be the casting of bile into the pancreatic duct. This is usually observed in cholelithiasis. In this case, biliary pancreatitis develops.
Psychological causes
Separately it is necessary to say about the psychological causes in the development of this disease in adults. The increased stress on the body, frequent experiences, lack of rest and chronic lack of sleep can adversely affect the work of the pancreas. However, these factors are only an impetus to the development of this disease. The main reason should be sought in the other - excessive consumption of fatty foods, alcohol, the presence of cholelithiasis, etc.
As you can see, the causes of pancreatitis in adults can be different. What led to the development of this disease - this question can only answer the doctor after a thorough examination.
