The main symptoms of pancreatitis include severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever. The abdominal pain is usually located in the upper abdomen and may radiate to the back, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and fever. In severe cases, jaundice, low blood pressure, and shock may occur, requiring immediate medical attention.
1. Severe abdominal pain is the most typical symptom of pancreatitis. The pain is mostly located in the upper abdomen and may radiate to the back. The pain is persistent and severe, and worsens after eating. The cause of the abdominal pain is related to pancreatic inflammation leading to edema and necrosis of pancreatic tissue. Digestive enzymes secreted by the pancreas leak out, causing self-digestion and damage to surrounding tissues.
2. Nausea and vomiting are common accompanying symptoms of pancreatitis. Because pancreatic inflammation irritates the gastrointestinal tract, it leads to gastrointestinal dysfunction, causing patients to often feel nauseous, and in severe cases, vomiting. Vomitus usually consists of stomach contents, and in severe cases, it may contain bile. The cause of nausea and vomiting is related to pancreatic inflammation irritating the vagus nerve and the gastrointestinal mucosa.
3. Fever is one of the systemic reactions of pancreatitis. Elevated body temperature is usually related to the systemic inflammatory response caused by pancreatitis. The degree of fever is related to the severity of pancreatitis; mild pancreatitis may only present with a low-grade fever, while severe pancreatitis may present with a high fever. The causes of fever are related to the release of inflammatory mediators and infection.
4. Jaundice is one of the possible symptoms of pancreatitis, especially biliary pancreatitis. Jaundice manifests as yellowing of the skin and sclera, darkening of urine, and lightening of stool color. The causes of jaundice are related to biliary obstruction or pancreatic inflammation compressing the common bile duct.
5. Hypotension and shock are serious complications of severe pancreatitis. Patients may experience symptoms such as pallor, cold and clammy extremities, rapid and weak pulse, and decreased urine output. The causes of hypotension and shock are related to the significant fluid loss due to pancreatic inflammation, increased vascular permeability, and systemic inflammatory response.
Pancreatitis presents with a variety of symptoms, varying in severity. Mild pancreatitis may only involve abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, while severe pancreatitis may cause jaundice, low blood pressure, and shock. Regardless of the severity of the symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention promptly upon experiencing pancreatitis symptoms for a thorough examination and treatment to prevent the condition from worsening.