Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas, which is the gland that is located in the upper abdomen behind the stomach. Whereas acute pancreatitis may develop suddenly, chronic pancreatitis may persist or come and go for an extended period of time. Symptoms of both types of pancreatitis generally include abdominal pain, digestive problems and bowel changes.
Abdominal Symptoms
Both acute and chronic forms of pancreatitis cause abdominal pain that may range from mild to severe. Acute pancreatitis is usually characterized by severe pain in the upper abdomen just below the breastbone. According to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, approximately 50 percent of people will experience pain that radiates to the back. Individuals who develop pancreatitis as a consequence of alcoholism may notice the pain increasing in intensity over a period of a few days, while those whose pancreatitis is caused by other conditions such as gallstones may develop intense pain within minutes. Acute pancreatitis can cause pain that worsens with deep breathing, coughing or movement. The pain may be worse after eating and can cause nausea and vomiting, according to the Mayo Clinic. Some people may find relief from abdominal pain by leaning forward or curling into a ball.
Chronic pancreatitis may cause persistent pain that varies in intensity in the middle abdomen or pain that comes and goes in the upper abdomen. According to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, the cells that secrete digestive enzymes are destroyed as pancreatitis progresses. As this occurs, abdominal pain may eventually stop.
Seek immediate medical care if you experience severe abdominal pain, and call your doctor promptly if you have stomach pain that does not go away.
Digestion Problems
Chronic pancreatitis can cause a decrease in the number of digestive enzymes, impairing your ability to break down food normally. When food is not properly digested, it is not absorbed properly, causing weight loss and steatorrhea--the production of bulky, foul-smelling and greasy stools. According to Merck, the stool may also contain undigested muscle fibers or oil droplets.
Other General Symptoms
According to the National Institutes of Health, some people with pancreatitis can develop other symptoms that are signs of infection. For example, fever, chills, clammy skin, weakness and sweating may all occur during a bout of pancreatitis.
Worsening Symptoms
Acute and chronic pancreatitis may cause malnutrition, even if you continue to eat a normal amount of food. Because pancreatitis causes destruction of digestive enzymes, food is not absorbed properly in the intestine, leading to weight loss and vitamin deficiencies.
In addition to producing digestive enzymes, the pancreas is also responsible for producing hormones that help your body process sugar. Damage to the cells that produce these hormones can cause diabetes--a chronic condition in which blood sugar levels rise too high.
According to the Mayo Clinic, pancreatitis can also cause kidney failure, severe infection of the pancreas that may require surgery and dangerous breathing problems. Acute pancreatitis is also associated with the formation of pseudocysts--cyst-like pockets in the pancreas that fill with fluid and debris and, if ruptured, can lead to internal bleeding and infection.
