Inflammation of the pancreas is calledpancreatitis. But in order to reliably establish a diagnosis, differential diagnosis should be carried out. Pancreatitis can be acute or chronic. It is important to know its characteristic signs, in order to distinguish it from other gastrointestinal diseases.
Similar diseases
- pancreas cancer;
- peptic ulcer (perforated ulcers);
- cholecystitis;
- intestinal obstruction;
- acute appendicitis;
myocardial infarction.
To determine what kind of problem caused by these or other symptoms, you can, as a rule, only in the hospital. Doctors need to know the characteristic signs of all diseases in order to establish a precise diagnosis.
Differential diagnostics
Distinguish from perforated ulcer pancreatitis can bebehavior of the patient. In the first case, he will try to take one position and not move. With pancreatitis, the patients are restless. In addition to pain, they experience vomiting.
To understand what exactly bothers a person, you canwith the help of ultrasound. This study makes it possible to diagnose cholecystitis. With this disease, patients complain of pain on the right side, which passes into the appropriate shoulder. On ultrasound with cholecystitis, an inflammatory process is seen.
Intestinal obstruction manifests itself as well aspancreatitis. You can distinguish these diseases by blood tests. For this, the diagnosis of pancreatitis is carried out. Analyzes will show diastases and an elevated level of chlorides in inflammation of the pancreas.
Classification of pancreatitis
To understand how inflammation manifests itselfpancreas, it must be understood that it can be acute or chronic. In the first case, the symptoms are pronounced, the doctor can easily understand that the patient has acute pancreatitis. Diagnosis is mandatory, and only after confirmation of the assumptions of the doctor (with the help of ultrasound and analysis) is prescribed treatment.
Chronic pancreatitis is characterized by alternating periods of slight improvement / deterioration. In this case, the inflammatory process is sluggish. But it leads to atrophy of the gland tissue.
Characteristics of acute inflammation
In severe acute inflammatoryprocess in the pancreas observed marked disorders in various organs and tissues. In addition, the severe form may be accompanied by such complications:
- pancreatic abscess (pus accumulates in the pancreas or surrounding tissues);
- acute false cyst - occurs 4 or more weeks after an attack of pancreatitis, characterized by accumulation of pancreatic juice;
- pancreatic necrosis (tissue infection is also possible);
- acute accumulation of fluid in the pericopancreatic space or in the gland itself.
This must be taken into account when the diagnosis is carried out. Pancreatitis, in which tissue necrosis began, can be fatal. This occurs, as a rule, with the development of a purulent form of the disease.
Variants of chronic inflammation
With this disease, inflammation candecrease, then begin to develop with a new force. But this is not as harmless as it may seem at first glance. Competent diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis is necessary, because it can begin atrophy of tissues, the pancreas calcinates over time, its normal tissues are replaced by scars.
Symptoms of acute pancreatitis
Understand when you need to see a doctorpossible, if you know the signs of the beginning of an active inflammatory process. These include a pronounced pain symptom. Most patients indicate an epigastric region (left hypochondrium). Girdle pain, it can give to the area of the left shoulder blade. In the supine position on the back, it only increases. The deterioration is observed after taking alcohol, fatty, fried or spicy foods.
In addition to pain, there are other signssaying that acute pancreatitis has begun. Diagnosis and treatment should be carried out in a hospital inpatient setting. This will make it possible to establish the diagnosis as accurately as possible and reduce the time required for the restoration of health. Symptoms of this disease are:
- temperature increase;
- vomiting, which does not bring relief (may be indomitable);
- moderate yellowness of the sclera, in some patients the skin may look yellowish;
- hemorrhages in the navel, bluish spots on the body;
- heartburn;
- bloating, flatulence.
The disease also shows a violationstool, excessive fatigue, reduced pressure, pale skin, and increased perspiration. Patients often complain of dry mouth, when viewed seen a white coating on the tongue.
Signs of chronic inflammation
On the development of chronic pancreatitis indicate:
- recurrent pain, localized in the left hypochondrium, they often give to the back;
- Periodic nausea;
- diarrhea, in which there is a characteristic odor;
- sharp weight loss;
- deterioration of health after eating fatty, fried, smoked food.
If pancreatitis is not treated, then the patient appears weak, dizzy. Some may even develop type 2 diabetes, memory loss becomes noticeable, and breathing problems occur.
Laboratory diagnostic methods
With inflammation of the pancreas increases the levelalpha-amylase, lipase, dramatically increases the activity of the C-reactive protein. If the disease is accompanied by a malfunction of the kidneys, then the level of urea in the blood increases. At the same time you can see a decrease in the amount of proteins, including albumin. The amount of insulin also decreases markedly, due to which glucose levels begin to rise.
Water and electrolytic analysis allowsdetermine how the composition of the blood has changed. Reduced fluid levels can cause blood clots and blockage of small vessels. Also, this analysis allows to determine the concentration of minerals: potassium, sodium, calcium. They are responsible for the normal functioning of the heart and blood vessels.
Complete blood count gives an idea of the nature of the disease. Pay attention to the level of white blood cells and red blood cells. Without this examination, a complete diagnosis cannot be carried out.
Pancreatitis is established by urine analysis.In this disease, the level of alpha-amylase significantly deviates from the norm. But this is observed only in the initial stages of the disease. With the progression of pancreatitis in the urine can detect red blood cells, white blood cells and other components.
Instrumental diagnostics
Methods for the diagnosis of pancreatitis enoughdiverse. In addition to the study of biological fluids, the doctor needs to see how the pancreas has changed. It is also necessary to establish whether its inflammation affected the surrounding organs and tissues.
Laparoscopy allows bothdiagnose and treat pancreatitis. In some cases, during this mini-operation, it is possible to minimize the negative effect of inflammation on other organs. But laparoscopy is used only in extremely severe cases.
Using computed tomography can alsoto be diagnosed. Pancreatitis can be established by the characteristic features: an increased size of the pancreas, the presence of inflammatory processes and dead tissue.
Endoscopy allows you to see all the changes in the pancreas and in the duodenum. For this endoscope with a camera installed on it is inserted into the esophagus.
