What are the early warning signs of pancreatitis?
Written by:In one of our latest medical articles below, esteemed consultant general surgeon, Mr Mudassar Ghazanfar, walks us through some of the early warning signs of pancreatitis, before going on to reveal what the outlook for patients with pancreatitis is.
What are the early warning signs of pancreatitis?
Acute abdominal pain, severe abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, and fever are all common symptoms and early warning signs of pancreatitis.
How can I avoid my chances of being diagnosed with pancreatitis?
The most common cause of pancreatitis in the UK is gallstones. Gallstones are extremely common, with roughly one in five people suffering from gallstones within their lifetime.
The stone can trigger inflammation in the pancreas. If someone has gallstones and symptoms as a result of their gallstones, they should try to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Another major cause of pancreatitis is excessive alcohol consumption, so patients at risk of being diagnosed with pancreatitis are urged to stop drinking.
What are the main associated risk factors?
If we talk about gallstones firstly, they are more common in females because of the female hormones. People who drink and smoke are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with pancreatitis.
What is the outlook for patients with pancreatitis?
Most people will be cured of pancreatitis within a couple of days if they have mild pancreatitis. However, people suffering from severe pancreatitis can end up with organ failure. The mortality rate for severe pancreatitis is one in five. People with chronic pancreatitis can become diabetic as well further down the line.
How is pancreatitis diagnosed? Is it curable?
We normally start the diagnostic process by taking a medical history and listening to and examining their symptoms. We then carry out some specific blood tests. CT scans are also used if necessary.
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