What is pancreatitis?
Pancreatitis is a condition that can cause severe belly pain. The pancreas is an organ that makes hormones and juices that help break down food. Pancreatitis is the term doctors and nurses use when this organ gets irritated or swollen. Most people get over pancreatitis without any long-lasting effects. But a few people get very sick.
What causes pancreatitis?
There are many causes of pancreatitis. But most cases are caused by gallstones or alcohol abuse:
- Gallstones : Gallstones are hard lumps that form inside an organ called the gallbladder. Both the pancreas and the gallbladder drain into a single tube. If that tube gets clogged by a gallstone, neither of the organs can drain. When that happens, the fluids from both organs get backed up. That can cause pain.
- Alcohol abuse : People who drink too much alcohol for too long sometimes get alcohol-related pancreatitis. People with this form of pancreatitis usually start to feel pain 1 to 3 days after drinking a lot of alcohol or after they suddenly stop drinking. They usually also have nausea and vomiting (throwing up). People with this form of pancreatitis must learn to give up alcohol to keep from getting pancreatitis again.
Is there a test for pancreatitis?
There is no easy test for pancreatitis. Doctors sometimes have trouble diagnosing it, because its symptoms can be caused by a lot of things. Even so, there are a few tests that can help your doctor figure out if you have pancreatitis.
How is pancreatitis treated?
Pancreatitis is usually treated in the hospital. There, your doctor or nurse can give you fluids and pain medicines to help you feel better. If you cannot eat, he or she can give you food through a tube. Some people with pancreatitis get an infection. Your doctor or nurse may give you antibiotics to treat or prevent infection. Another important part of treatment is to get rid of the cause of the pancreatitis. If your pancreatitis is caused by gallstones, your doctor may need to treat them, too.
