The pancreas is a large gland behind the stomach and next to the small intestine. The pancreas does two main things:
Acute pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis usually starts with pain that
Chronic pancreatitis
Most people with chronic pancreatitis feel pain in the upper abdomen, although some people have no pain at all.
The pain may:
Other symptoms may include
Treatment for acute or chronic pancreatitis may include
- It releases powerful digestive enzymes into the small intestine to aid the digestion of food.
- It releases the hormones insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream. These hormones help the body control how it uses food for energy.
Symptoms of pancreatitis
The main symptom of acute and chronic pancreatitis is- pain in your upper abdomen that may spread to your back
Acute pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis usually starts with pain that
- begins slowly or suddenly in your upper abdomen
- sometimes spreads to your back
- can be mild or severe
- may last for several days
- fever
- nausea and vomiting
- fast heartbeat
- swollen or tender abdomen
Chronic pancreatitis
Most people with chronic pancreatitis feel pain in the upper abdomen, although some people have no pain at all.
The pain may:
- spread to your back
- become constant and severe
- become worse after eating
- go away as your condition gets worse
Other symptoms may include
- diarrhea
- nausea
- greasy, foul-smelling stools
- vomiting
- weight loss
Treatment for acute or chronic pancreatitis may include
- a hospital stay to treat dehydration with intravenous (IV) fluids and, if you can swallow them, fluids by mouth
- pain medicine, and antibiotics by mouth or through an IV if you have an infection in your pancreas
- a low-fat diet, or nutrition by feeding tube or IV if you can’t eat
- a natural product for pancreatitis treatment