Symptoms of Pancreatitis: An Introduction
Symptoms of Pancreatitis: Pain
Symptoms of pancreatitis usually begin with pain in the upper abdomen. Pancreatitis pain may be severe and may become constant. Pain symptoms of pancreatitis can also be mild, getting worse when eating or drinking. The pain from pancreatitis may be just in the abdomen or it may reach to the back and other areas.
In certain cases, people with other symptoms of chronic pancreatitis have no pain at all. This is probably because the
pancreas is no longer making digestive enzymes.
Other Symptoms of Pancreatitis
Someone with symptoms of pancreatitis often looks and feels very sick. Other symptoms of pancreatitis may include:
- Swollen and tender abdomen
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Rapid pulse.
Severe Symptoms of Pancreatitis
More severe symptoms of pancreatitis may include:
People with
chronic pancreatitis symptoms often lose weight, even when their appetite and eating habits are normal. The weight loss occurs because the body does not secrete enough
pancreatic enzymes to break down food, so nutrients are not absorbed normally. Poor digestion leads to excretion of fat, protein, and sugar into the stool.
If the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas (islet cells) have been damaged, diabetes may also develop at this stage.
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