Chronic pancreatitis: symptoms and treatment in adults

Pancreatitis is a fairly common problem in adults and children. With such a diagnosis, inflammation of the pancreas occurs, the older the person is, the more severe the pathology can be.

It is imperative to know the symptoms and treatment of pancreatitis in adults in order to prevent degenerative changes in the gland. In women, the disease is diagnosed more often than in men.

Main reasons

Among the possible reasons for the appearance of pancreatitis in an adult, several main ones can be distinguished:

1. Frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages, as a result of which inflammation begins due to ethyl alcohol, which cannot be broken down in the pancreas.
2. Frequent consumption of junk food, fatty foods, fast food.
3. Presence of calculi in the gallbladder and ducts.
4. Duodenitis.
5. Ulcer in the gastrointestinal tract.
6. Operations in the abdominal cavity.
7. Injuries to the abdomen and internal organs.
8. Improper use of medications, which cause malfunction of the pancreas.
9. Infectious diseases, which include viral hepatitis.
10. Infection of the body with worms.
11. Incorrect structure of the pancreatic canals, which refers to birth defects.
12. Failures of metabolic processes.
13. Hormonal imbalance.

It is not always possible to establish the exact cause of the development of the disease. Moreover, pancreatitis itself can occur in several forms and types.

Each of which has its own symptoms.

Symptoms and types

There are several subspecies of the disease in medicine, and the symptoms depend on the severity, time of diagnosis of the disease and the form of the course.

The main symptoms that an adult can have are as follows:

1. Sharp pains under the ribs on the left side, which can radiate to other parts of the body.
2. A rise in temperature and a rapid drop in blood pressure.
3. Decreased appetite, the appearance of dyspeptic disorders.
4. Shock and fainting.
5. Skin discoloration to pale or yellow.
6. Rash on the body.
7. Irritability.

Depending on the causes of pancreatitis, it is divided into different types and forms, respectively, the main signs and methods of treatment change.

Acute pancreatitis

The main symptom of acute pancreatitis in an adult is the development of sharp pains under the rib on the left side.

Based on which part of the pancreas is more inflamed, the main symptom can pass to different parts of the body, there is a manifestation on the right, in the lower back or back.

In this state, it is necessary to seek medical help as quickly and in a timely manner as possible in order to exclude the appearance of painful shock.

In addition to pain in an adult with pancreatitis in the acute phase, there will be other manifestations:

1. Feverish condition.
2. Constant pressure surges.
3. Cold sweat appears.
4. Skin discoloration to pallor.
5. In the navel area and along the entire lower back, a blue skin tone, blue spots may appear.
6. Sometimes, with an acute course, there may be not pallor, but yellowing of the skin.
7. Nausea, hiccups and belching develop, especially after eating. Vomiting with bile particles is possible.
8. Stool is disturbed, feces have a pungent unpleasant odor, becomes foamy, and the frequency itself increases.
9. Flatulence, constipation and general abdominal discomfort develop.

When the described signs appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. Most likely, the patient is hospitalized for high-quality treatment, to exclude possible complications.

Chronic pancreatitis

The signs of chronic pancreatitis in adults are manifested with less intensity, and at the very beginning of the development of the disease they may not be at all.

Very often, the main symptoms are disguised as other diseases of a somatic nature. These include gastritis, dyskinesia and other gastrointestinal pathologies.

Similar to the acute form of the disease, symptoms of chronic pancreatitis in adults begin to appear in the form of pain.

Most often, they begin under the ribs from the side of the pancreas, after which they radiate to the back or from different sides.

The pain syndrome can be overflowing or encircling. When lying on the back, the symptom increases, and in a seated half-reclined position it decreases.

Pain in chronic illness often appears after a meal, when a diet is not used, fatty and heavy foods are used.

Also, problems begin during the use of alcoholic beverages, after their use, the pain does not develop immediately, but after a few days.

In rare cases, patients feel pain not from the inflamed organ, but in the heart, therefore they confuse the disease with angina pectoris.

There are other symptoms of chronic pancreatitis in adults that may appear from time to time:

1. Appetite decreases, aversion to certain foods or dishes begins.
2. Dyspeptic disorders appear, in the form of hiccups, belching, salivation and nausea.
3. Stool is disturbed, diarrhea appears, stool is like porridge, and in the feces you can see parts of fat, food products that could not be digested normally.
4. Bloating, strong rumbling between meals.
5. With a long course of pathology, weight loss is possible.
6. Insignificant rise in temperature.
7. Irritability.
8. Constant tiredness and weakness.
9. Sleep disturbances.

When chronic pancreatitis is diagnosed, symptoms and treatment in adults will be different, due to different types of disease:

1. Asymptomatic. This form is not characterized by pain and other disorders, so many people do not even know about the presence of pancreatitis.
2. Painful. The type of disease is manifested by severe pains of a different nature. Often, the problem begins after eating or drinking.
3. Dyspeptic. A disease of this type will be characterized by a constant upset of the gastrointestinal tract, the patient may have a violation of the stool, bloating, and weight loss.
4. Pseudotumor. This type of disease is very similar to the condition in the development of cancer cells and tumors.

If a person develops some of the described symptoms, which speaks of a chronic course of the disease, then you should immediately contact a doctor for diagnosis and counseling.

From time to time, the chronic form of pathology will worsen, and the course of pancreatitis itself will be long, it can accompany a person all his life.

To exclude exacerbation of symptoms, to transfer the pathology into a state of long-term remission, you will need to use proper nutrition, lifestyle, and use the recommendations of your doctor.

Even if there are no characteristic signs of manifestation, the disease can progress, as a result of which the tissues of the pancreas gradually die, the organ is destroyed and malfunctions.

Healthy particles are replaced by connective ones, complications are possible, which become fatal.

Reactive

Reactive pancreatitis develops within a few hours. The main reason for this type of disease is the inflammatory process of other organs of the gastrointestinal tract.

Also, a problem may appear due to abdominal surgeries or abdominal injuries.

In some cases, the reactive development of pathology appears after the use of medications.

The main symptoms of the disease are complemented by tissue breakdown. Patients may complain of the following condition:

1. Pain that appears in the abdominal cavity and radiates to the lower back.
2. Nausea and vomiting, after which there is no improvement in the condition.
3. Flatulence and disruption of the gastrointestinal tract.

With reactive pancreatitis, the patient must be hospitalized as quickly as possible in order to exclude possible complications.

The most dangerous condition in this state is peritonitis, which can be fatal.

Biliary

The biliary form of the disease appears as a result of already developed inflammation of the gallbladder and dyskinesia.

The problem appears as a result of the release of bile into the pancreatic canals, after which there is severe pain radiating to the shoulder and back.

Oli can be after eating, appear in 2-3 hours. Also, the symptom begins when drinking alcoholic beverages, sweet soda.

The general malaise is complemented by a bitter taste in the mouth, an increase in temperature, as well as a change in skin color.

Hemorrhagic

Such pancreatitis belongs to the subspecies of the acute form, but is characterized by a very rapid change in the structure of the gland, its destruction.

The state of the vessels is also disturbed, their rupture is possible. This type of disease is often fatal.

Signs of pancreatitis in adults with hemorrhagic form differ in strength. Often there is a sharp pain in the abdomen, which can radiate to the heart and other parts of the body.

Inflammation is characterized by the following additions:

1. Chills.
2. Temperature rise.
3. Vomit.
4. General intoxication.

The severe course of the disease without proper therapy leads to tissue hypoxia. The goal of treatment is to relieve pain, stop changes in the pancreas, and prevent complications.

After the relief of acute symptoms, further treatment is done, which should be in a hospital setting.

Diagnosis

To determine the severity of the disease, the condition of the pancreas, as well as to prescribe treatment, the patient is initially diagnosed.

For this, a visual examination of the abdominal cavity is carried out, as well as palpation of the abdomen, to assess the intensity of pain.

This method does not make it possible to fully assess the state of the pancreas, its enlargement may be felt if a person is of a thin build.

Even experienced doctors cannot make a diagnosis by collecting symptoms and palpation alone. To determine the state and course of pancreatitis, you will need to carry out other diagnostic measures:

1. Blood, feces and urine are collected for analysis.
2. Radiography and ultrasound are done.
3. CT, gastroscopy.

The diagnostic technique can be adjusted in each case. Therefore, these methods can be supplemented or reduced.

Treatment of the acute form

As soon as pancreatitis appears in an acute form, the patient should be treated immediately.

First of all, a strict diet is used, which reduces the inflammatory process and relieves the main symptoms of the disease.

The first week is treated with fasting, all food is excluded for 2-3 days, it is allowed to drink only mineral alkaline water.

After 3 days, you can gradually introduce foods into the diet that will be easy for the digestive system.

To maintain strength, the patient is prescribed nutrients that are introduced by drip.

If vomiting appears during pancreatitis, which does not pass for a long time and does not allow normal nutrition, then the products are introduced directly into the stomach through a tube.

Conservative treatment

Treatment of the acute form of the disease is carried out in a hospital setting. An adult will need to use medications that can restore the functioning of the organ and the general condition of the body.

To do this, use the following means:

1. A saline-based dropper is used, Reopolygukin or Reosorbilact is administered for treatment.
2. To relieve sharp pains, antispasmodic or analgesic drugs are used, for example, No-shpa or Ketanov. They are injected into a vein or muscle.
3. It is possible to eliminate puffiness and speed up the withdrawal of excess fluid with the help of diuretics, which include Lasix, Diacarb or Furosemide.
4. Severe vomiting is stopped with injections based on Metoclopramide or Cekural.
5. To reduce the load and provide rest to the inflamed gland, drugs are used that can suppress the negative effect of enzymes. The drug Contriven or Trasilol is introduced.
6. Multivitamin therapy is in progress.

Medicines for therapy can be prescribed only after a thorough diagnosis.

If the methods of conservative treatment do not give results, then the doctor may prescribe a surgical method of therapy.

Food

With inflammation of the pancreas, you will need to follow a strict diet, the diet is completely adjusted.

Hunger is recommended to be applied immediately when acute symptoms develop. After 1 week, light soups, cereals and jelly can be added to the menu

Meat or fish dishes will also be useful, and the cooking method is only boiled. Meat and fish are used dietary varieties without fat.

The general menu should include cooked or steamed foods. For sweets, a minimum amount of honey is allowed.

It is important to eat in fractional portions, often. You can use vegetables other than tomatoes, low-fat dairy products, herbal teas, uzvar or still water.

The basic rules of nutrition are indicated by the doctor, they are also spelled out in the dietary table No. 5p according to Pevzner.

Folk remedies

In addition to the use of medicines and proper nutrition, with pancreatitis, traditional medicine is often used.

They can be used alone or in conjunction with pills and other medications.

Among the effective recipes are:

1. Oatmeal jelly. For cooking, it is necessary to rinse, dry and grind oats in a coffee grinder. The resulting flour is poured with boiling water, cooked for up to 5 minutes, stirring constantly, which excludes burning. After insisting and straining, drink jelly for 1 month.
2. Rosehip infusion. For 1 tbsp. fruits, add 200 ml of boiling water and leave to infuse for a couple of hours, after straining, use 100-150 ml before the start of the meal.
3. Potato and carrot juice. This combination allows you to remove pain, improves the digestive system. For cooking, you need to pass the vegetables through a juicer at the rate of 1 carrot and 2 medium-sized potatoes. Drink the resulting drink twice a day before a meal, 1-2 tablespoons. The course of treatment is from 1 week.
4. Tincture of barberry. The root of the plant is used for treatment. 100 grams of the product is crushed and filled with 500 ml of vodka. The tool is left for a month for infusion, after preparation of straining, 1 tbsp is used. before the meal. During exacerbations of pancreatitis, it is necessary to use the tincture for 2-4 weeks.

Before using any recipe from traditional medicine, you should discuss it with your doctor. This excludes the deterioration of the condition.

The basis of the treatment of the disease should be the use of medicines and proper nutrition.

Chronic pancreatitis treatment

During remission, when the disease enters the chronic phase, treatment is carried out only with proper nutrition.

The diet does not use fatty foods, and the intake of carbohydrates is also reduced. Proteins must be increased so that the daily rate is 120-150 grams.

It is imperative to adhere to the correct lifestyle, give up addictions and play sports.

The correct approach to chronic pancreatitis allows you to improve the quality of life and forget about the characteristic symptoms, relapses.

Conservative treatment

Adults do not always adhere to proper nutrition, they can drink alcohol, so chronic pancreatitis worsens from time to time.

For treatment, medications can be used, among which are:

1. Antibiotics, exact drugs can only be determined by a doctor.
2. Pain relievers and antispasmodics to control pain. For treatment, papaverine or drotaverine tablets are taken.
3. Enzymatic preparations can be used to improve the digestive system. It is recommended to use Mezim, Creon or Pancreatin.
4. You can reduce acidity in the stomach with Almagel or Maalox drugs.

Immediately after exacerbations, the patient will have to starve a little, you can only drink mineral water without gas, in small sips.

After a while, it will be possible to eat in small portions and often, but do not use fatty and carbohydrate foods.

Among the permitted products are:

1. Boiled plant foods.
2. Diet types of meat and fish products.
3. Fruit without a pronounced taste.
4. Kefir and low-fat cottage cheese.
5. Herbal teas, water, jelly.

The described nutrition does not need a large number of enzymes, due to which the discomfort passes, the load from the pancreas is relieved.

Folk remedies

In a chronic form, folk remedies can be used, both for relieving symptoms and for preventing exacerbations.

To do this, it is best to give preference to the following recipes:

1. Collection of herbs. For cooking, chamomile, calendula and yarrow are combined. For 1 tbsp. a glass of boiling water is added to the mixture, left for 30 minutes, after which it is taken 30 minutes before a meal 3-4 times a day.
2. Tea with mint and honey. This drink will improve the excretion of bile, has a sedative effect. Tea can be used all the time without restriction and without being tied to food.
3. Rosehip oil. Take it for 1 tsp. in the chronic phase for 10 days.

Before using traditional medicine, you must obtain the approval of a doctor.

Possible complications

Pancreatitis without proper therapy can cause a number of complications that not only worsen health and quality of life, but can be fatal.

Possible complications include:

1. Abscess. The appearance of the problem is characterized by the accumulation of pus in the pancreas, a complication begins as a result of tissue death and infection. Often, an abscess develops in 2 weeks of exacerbation.
2. Ascites. Appears when pancreatic juice with enzymes enters the abdominal cavity. After that, a large accumulation of exudate begins in the abdominal cavity.
3. Narrowing of the bile duct. A disorder appears as a result of severe swelling of the pancreas, the complication can be recognized by jaundice.
4. Gastrointestinal bleeding. A problem occurs when the cyst ruptures during exacerbations. Treatment is carried out by surgical methods.

There are also more serious complications, including peritonitis and blood poisoning, which often lead to death.

In order to prevent the development of pancreatitis in an adult or to exclude its exacerbation, one must adhere to the correct diet and lifestyle, as well as engage in prevention.

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