Symptoms of exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis. Exacerbation of pancreatitis symptoms and treatment

People rarely pay attention to what they eat and how much. Poor nutrition, accompanied by stress, overexertion or emotional stress, leads to the body responding with inflammatory processes. In this case, the pancreas suffers more often than others; a disease called pancreatitis occurs. It is important to remember that if treatment is not carried out, the disease will develop into a chronic one. In order to take timely measures to combat the disease, you should know how exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis manifests itself - symptoms, treatment prescribed by a doctor will help you choose the right therapy.

Signs of exacerbation of pancreatitis

The disease, including pancreatitis, does not occur without a reason. The main signs of exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis are:

• presence of cholelithiasis;
• diagnosed cholecystitis;
• there are stressful situations or constant worries;
• violation of diet and treatment in acute forms of the disease;
• excessive drinking of alcohol;
• unhealthy diet (predominance of spicy, fatty and salty foods in the diet).

Symptoms of exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis

Exacerbation of pancreatitis symptoms, which manifests itself in the form of sharp pain, indicate that it is necessary to undergo a course of rehabilitation therapy. Additional signs that changes are occurring in the pancreas that require attention include:

• back pain;
• pain in the area of ​​the shoulder blades and between them;
• pain in the left hypochondrium;
• nausea;
• vomit;
• bitterness in the mouth;
• dryness;
• weakness;
• lack of appetite;
• constant urge to defecate;
• diarrhea;
• headaches;
• heart failure;
• increased body temperature (on average up to 38.5);
• bile secretion;
• hard belly;
• Bad mood;
• weight loss;
• there is bloating;
• drowsy state.

An attack can last from 1 to 7-8 days. In addition, the symptoms of chronic pancreatitis in the acute stage may not go away - pain and nausea are constantly present. If the pain is constant but mild, then it can last up to 1-2 months - the course of the exacerbation stage is sluggish, but requires attention. It is also noted that the pain may intensify at night.

Important! The symptoms of exacerbation of pancreatitis indicate that the problem already exists and requires treatment. That is why immediate consultation with a doctor (general practitioner and gastroenterologist) is necessary.

Phases of the disease

In case of exacerbation of the pancreas, treatment is prescribed based on the phase of the process. Each of them has special manifestations and symptoms. So in the first phase, inflammation forms - a source of pain. It lasts up to 5 days. During this period, pain manifestations may be unnoticeable, there is a deterioration in health, a pulling sensation in the abdomen, and stool disturbances.

The second phase is characterized by increasing severity - the symptoms of exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis become pronounced. Consultation with a doctor is necessary, since many manifestations of the disease are similar to the symptoms of other diseases, for example, poisoning. An accurate diagnosis can be made by a doctor based on the diagnostics performed. This will eliminate all errors and prescribe effective therapy.

Diagnosis of the disease in the acute phase

If a person notices signs of exacerbation of pancreatitis, then he needs to undergo diagnostics. It includes:

• blood test (biochemistry);
• stool analysis;
• blood test (sugar);
• urine test (general);
• ultrasound of the peritoneum;
• x-ray;
• gastroscopy;
• Passing functional tests.

Additionally, the doctor feels the abdomen and interviews the patient to determine the duration of the attack and the symptoms that are present at a given time.

Treatment of exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis

Exacerbation of the pancreas requires treatment. It is assigned based on the survey data obtained. Therapy includes:

• drug treatment;
• use of traditional medicine;
• diet;
• prevention.

for exacerbation of the pancreas treatment

In order to relieve the main symptoms, it is important to know how to calm the pancreas during an exacerbation. The main advice is fasting, as it is necessary to relieve the load on the pancreas and the gastrointestinal tract in general.

Dietary nutrition is an integral part of the recovery process. In addition to dietary restrictions, you need to know what to drink during an exacerbation of pancreatitis. The table for symptoms of acute pancreatitis should consist of low-fat foods, baked goods, sweets and spicy foods are completely excluded. Salt and marinades also remain prohibited until complete recovery.

Symptoms of exacerbation of the pancreas - pain require a person to refuse to eat at all in the first 2-3 days or, if this is not possible, to eat in minimal quantities. In addition, from the 4th to the 10th day of the diet, it is gradually allowed to eat porridge - semolina, oatmeal, rice, and also include vegetable purees and meat, which should be lean, in the diet. Baked apples and a little honey are allowed as desserts. You can drink rosehip decoctions, juices diluted with water (except banana and grape), green tea.

In order not to provoke another attack of pancreatitis, it is recommended to adhere to fractional meals, and also eat up to 7 times a day in small portions so as not to burden the stomach. At the same time, you should take medications to produce a sufficient amount of enzymes.

Disease prevention

After the signs of exacerbation of the pancreas disappear, a course of restorative therapy is carried out and good indicators of repeated tests are achieved, prophylaxis will be required. It includes:

• continuation of dietary nutrition (relaxed restrictions);
• taking a course of medications;
• folk remedies.

All this will allow you to relieve negative feelings at home if they appear again. Signs of exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis will allow you to remove traditional medicine prescriptions. Decoctions and infusions prepared from medicinal plants will help effectively solve the problem of recurrence of pain.

Traditional medicine recipes

Effective recipes that help support pancreatic health are very easy to prepare. You need to take:

• corn silks – 20 g;
• celandine -20 g (dry);
• dandelion root – 10 g;
• anise seeds – 10 g;
• knotweed - 10 g;
• tricolor violet (flowers) – 10 g.

All ingredients need to be poured into 2 glasses of water and boiled. After boiling, cook for another 7 minutes, reducing the heat to minimum. After this, strain the resulting decoction and take 3-4 ml 30 minutes before meals for 14 days.

Another recipe that can be used for both treatment and prevention:

• dill seeds – 2 tbsp;
• chamomile flowers (dry) -20 g;
• immortelle flowers - 2 tbsp;
• hawthorn fruits – 10 g (chopped).

The ingredients are poured into 4 glasses of water and brought to a boil. Afterwards, they must be removed from the heat and wrapped in a container until the broth has cooled completely. Strain the resulting liquid and drink 85 ml after each meal. Use for at least 5 days or until symptoms of exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis completely disappear.

Another simple and good recipe:

• golden mustache - 3 leaves (freshly cut);
• water – 3 glasses.

The ingredients should be mixed and heated, and then boiled. After boiling, leave on low heat for another 15 minutes, then remove from heat and strain until only liquid remains. Start taking with 1 tablespoon, the maximum amount is 125 ml (the volume increases gradually). Course up to 10-14 days.

Thus, you can cure an attack of exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis by knowing its symptoms. Therapy should be carried out in a complex - the measures are consistent. It is recommended to reduce physical activity and general activity during this time, and strictly adhere to the rules of taking medications and diet. Subsequent prevention is the key to success and good health.

Chronic pancreatitis is a disorder in which irreversible damage occurs in the tissues of the pancreas as a result of inflammation. It is a common condition that can develop in people of any age and gender, but is most often seen in adult men aged 40 to 55 years.

Over the past decades, the number of people with chronic forms has increased significantly. In addition, the cause of the disease in 75% of cases is now alcohol, whereas previously alcoholic pancreatitis accounted for only 40% of all cases.

The disease develops over several years and is characterized by alternating periods of exacerbation and subsidence of the disease. Very often, with chronic pancreatitis, the symptoms of the disease are mild or absent altogether. The main stage of treatment is to follow a special diet and proper nutrition during periods of exacerbation and remission.

Reasons

What is it? Excessive alcohol consumption plays a leading role in the causes of chronic pancreatitis in industrialized countries. Much less often, the causes of this suffering are its complications (choledocholithiasis, stricture of the major duodenal papilla).

The pathogenesis of the disease has not been sufficiently studied, although it is now firmly established that its key link is the replacement of the epithelial tissue of the pancreatic acini with connective tissue. According to scientific works of the last decade, cytokines (inflammatory mediators) also play an important role.

By severity Chronic pancreatitis is divided into three forms:

1. Severe course: frequent and prolonged exacerbations (more than 5 times a year) with severe pain. Body weight is sharply reduced to the point of exhaustion, caused by pancreatic diarrhea. Complications are added - duodenal stenosis due to an enlarged head of the pancreas.
2. Moderate severity: exacerbations 3-4 times a year, last a long time with severe pain, stool analysis shows an increase in fat, muscle fibers, protein, body weight may decrease, exocrine function of the gland may be reduced.
3. Mild course: exacerbations occur rarely (1-2 times a year), do not last long, the pain is not significant, is easily relieved, there is no loss of body weight, the exocrine function of the gland is not impaired.

Chronic pancreatitis occurs in 0.2-0.6% of people. At the same time, the number of patients is constantly increasing, which is associated with the growth of alcoholism.

Acute and chronic form

There are two main types of the disease – acute and chronic.

In most cases, acute pancreatitis occurs due to alcohol abuse, cholelithiasis (up to 30% of cases), as well as due to poisoning (intoxication), viral disease or surgery on the gastrointestinal tract. Acute pancreatitis can also occur as an exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis.

In turn, without proper treatment, acute pancreatitis can develop into chronic pancreatitis of the pancreas.

However, chronic pancreatitis can also occur as an independent disease, without a preliminary acute phase. In this case, the causes of chronic pancreatitis can be, first of all, diseases of the biliary tract - cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder), biliary dyskinesia, cholelithiasis.

Symptoms of chronic pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis occurs with periods of exacerbation, when the symptoms of the disease become more active in the form of pain, nausea, indigestion, etc., and remission, when the patient feels satisfactory.

The main symptom of chronic pancreatitis is severe pain. Its location depends on the location of the pancreas lesion - it could be the left or right hypochondrium or pain in the pit of the stomach (under the ribs in the middle).

Usually pain occurs 40 minutes to an hour after eating, especially if the food was too fatty or spicy. The pain may intensify when lying down, and may also radiate to the left shoulder blade or shoulder, lower abdomen or heart area. Often the only position in which the patient can be is sitting and leaning forward.

1. If the entire pancreas is affected, then pain in the form of a “belt” covers the entire upper abdomen.
2. With damage to the head of the pancreas.
3. When the body of the gland is damaged, pain occurs in the epigastric region.
4. If the tail of the pancreas is affected, then pain is felt in the left hypochondrium or to the left of the navel.

When the pancreas is damaged, the production of digestive enzymes is reduced and the functioning of the entire digestive system is disrupted. Therefore, nausea, belching and heartburn are symptoms that always accompany chronic pancreatitis.

Exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis

During the period of exacerbation, chronic pancreatitis acquires the symptoms of acute pancreatitis, so it is best to treat it in a hospital setting, under the supervision of specialists. Symptoms during exacerbation can be pronounced or, on the contrary, erased.

The patient usually complains of pain in the epigastric region or in the right hypochondrium, which can occur both after eating and on an empty stomach. Manifestations of dyspepsia (diarrhea, rumbling in the stomach, nausea) are possible.

Upon examination, the doctor notes the appearance of a white coating on the tongue and a decrease in body weight. The patient's skin is dry and flaky. Red spots may appear in the abdominal area, and subcutaneous hemorrhages may appear on the sides of the abdomen.

Diagnostics

To assess the functioning of the pancreas, scatological tests with Elastase-1 are used (the norm is more than 200 mcg/g of feces). Due to damage to the endocrine apparatus of this gland, patients develop carbohydrate metabolism disorders in about a third of cases.

For differential diagnosis, ultrasound and x-ray examinations are often used in medical practice.

Complications

Early complications of chronic pancreatitis of the pancreas are: obstructive jaundice due to impaired outflow of bile, portal hypertension, internal bleeding due to ulceration or perforation of the hollow organs of the gastrointestinal tract, infections and infectious complications (abscess, parapancreatitis, phlegmon of the retroperitoneal tissue, inflammation of the bile ducts).

Complications of a systemic nature: multiorgan pathologies, functional failure of organs and systems (renal, pulmonary, hepatic), encephalopathy, DIC syndrome. As the disease progresses, bleeding of the esophagus, weight loss, diabetes mellitus, and malignant neoplasms of the pancreas may occur.

Forecast

Strict adherence to nutrition and diet, complete abstinence from drinking alcohol, strict adherence to recommendations for drug treatment significantly reduce the frequency of exacerbations, transforming the process into a rarely relapsing variant with slow progression. In some patients it is possible to achieve noticeable and lasting remission.

Chronic pancreatitis is characterized by a progressive course, however, cessation of exposure to causative factors and adequate therapy slow down the progression of the disease and significantly improve the quality of life of patients and the prognosis.

Treatment of chronic pancreatitis

In most cases of chronic pancreatitis, treatment consists of several methods that have a complex effect:

• diet;
• elimination of pain syndrome;
• restoration of the digestive process, elimination of pancreatic enzyme deficiency;
• stopping the inflammatory process;
• restoration of pancreatic tissue;
• prevention of complications.

This list describes a unique standard of treatment for chronic pancreatitis of the pancreas, which all doctors adhere to. Only medications may differ; when choosing them, the individual characteristics of the patient’s body are taken into account.

Surgery

Patients with chronic pancreatitis, as a rule, are not indicated for surgical intervention.

However, in cases of severe pain that cannot be treated with medications, and especially in the pseudotumorous form of chronic pancreatitis, surgery is recommended - sphincterotomy (dissection and expansion of the outlet of the pancreatic duct).

Treatment of exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis

When inflammation worsens, the patient is indicated for urgent hospitalization. The first days after an attack, the patient can only drink non-carbonated alkaline water.

Analgesics and drugs that relieve muscle spasms are administered intravenously. Since pancreatitis in the acute stage is often accompanied by repeated vomiting and diarrhea, large fluid losses are compensated with saline drips.

The treatment regimen for the chronic form involves complete fasting during the period of exacerbation of the disease. In this regard, a glucose solution is administered intravenously.

Enzymes are also prescribed as drug treatment if the type of pancreatitis is hyposecretory. In case of excessive release of enzymes by the pancreas, drugs are prescribed to reduce secretory function. Drugs for treatment are largely determined by the type of disease. Therefore, only the attending physician can prescribe certain medications.

The standards for the treatment of chronic pancreatitis in the acute stage are unchanged and effective. The three principles that have guided medicine for many years - hunger, cold and peace - are the “three pillars” on which the successful treatment of this disease rests.
After the condition has normalized, the attending physician must give the patient a strict diet, which the person suffering from pancreatitis must follow constantly.

Diet

In order for the pancreas to cope with its functions normally,... Nutritional therapy is an important part of complex therapy not only for acute pancreatitis, but also for chronic pancreatitis.

First of all, a proper diet helps eliminate factors that can provoke an exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis (alcoholic drinks, smoking, coffee, fatty or fried foods, smoked foods, various sourdoughs, spicy foods, chocolate and others).

Fish, mushroom or meat broths are prohibited. You need to eat small portions (no more than 300 g per meal), low-calorie foods, 5-6 times a day. You should not eat food that is cold or very hot.

Drink water that neutralizes acidity in the stomach (Borjomi, Essentuki No. 17). Limit daily fat intake to 60 g per day, carbohydrates to 300-400 g per day, protein to 60-120 g per day. Limit salt intake per day to 6-8 g.

Folk remedies

The most common and accessible folk remedies, but even in this case, professional consultation with a doctor is initially necessary.

1. Golden mustache. To prepare the decoction you will need one leaf 25 cm long, or 2 sheets 15 cm each. They should be crushed and poured with 0.7 liters of water. Next, the product is placed on a quiet fire for a quarter of an hour, after which it is infused throughout the day in a warm place. Take 25 ml of warm decoction during the period of remission of the disease.
2. Potatoes and carrots. To prepare, you need five small potatoes and two medium carrots. Vegetables should be washed in cold water, but not peeled. The main thing is to remove all the eyes from the potatoes and wash them again. Squeeze the juice out of the vegetables. You should get a glass of juice, if it turns out less, add vegetables in the same proportion. This medicinal mixture should be drunk for a week. Do this before lunch once a day. Then take a week off and repeat the treatment again. Treatment of pancreatitis with this method consists of three courses.
3. Washed and waterlogged oats it is infused for about 24 hours, then dried and ground into flour. Next, the flour is diluted with water, boiled for 3-5 minutes and left for 20 minutes. Ready-made jelly is taken fresh and warm daily.
4. Mix together 3 tbsp. l. herbs St. John's wort, motherwort, add 6 tbsp. l. dried immortelle flowers. Mix everything well. Then 1 tbsp. l. herbs pour 1 tbsp. boiling water, cover with a lid, wrap, leave for 40-50 minutes. Strain, drink 1 tbsp. half an hour before meals. But no more than 3 times a day. Continue folk treatment for 2 months.
5. We will need wormwood, burdock root, elecampane root, calendula flowers, chamomile, St. John's wort, marsh cudweed, tripartite string, medicinal sage and horsetail (10 grams of each ingredient). All components are crushed and thoroughly dried. Next 2 tbsp. spoons of the collection are poured with 250 ml of boiling water, heated under a closed lid in a water bath for about half an hour and infused for 10 minutes, then filtered and brought to 250 ml with boiled water. You need to take the herbal mixture three times a day, half a glass, half an hour before meals.

If you suspect the development of acute pancreatitis, home treatment is not permissible, since such actions can provoke the occurrence of various complications.

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Medicines for pancreatitis of the pancreas during exacerbation are prescribed to reduce the intensity of side symptoms and quickly stop the inflammatory process. Any medications can only be prescribed by the attending physician based on the results of the patient’s medical tests. Exacerbation of pancreatitis always occurs in aggravated form, and taking medications without consultation with a specialist can aggravate the patient’s condition.

Types of medicines

When pancreatitis worsens, medications are prescribed that are aimed at quickly relieving pain and reducing inflammation. The main types of drugs prescribed for the treatment of pancreatitis in the acute stage:

• antispasmodics;
• H2 blockers;
• antacids;
• sedatives;
• medications high in calcium;
• choleretic agents
• hormonal drugs.

All patients are required to be prescribed vitamin complexes. The emphasis is on vitamins of groups A, B, K, E, which help restore insufficient concentrations of nutrients in the body and help normalize the process of digestion and the outflow of bile.

In case of severe pain, in order to relieve the unpleasant symptoms of pancreatic disease as quickly as possible, pain-relieving medications, such as No-shpa, are prescribed. Exacerbation of pancreatitis is a serious disease that cannot be cured quickly.

Medicines must be taken regularly, some even for years, to restore the functioning of the pancreas and digestive system. Drug treatment must be combined with diet. Without following the correct diet and nutritional regimen, taking medications will not give positive dynamics.

How often do you get your blood tested?

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Only as prescribed by the attending physician 31%, 1825 votes

Once a year and I think that's enough 17%, 1012 votes

At least twice a year 15%, 892 vote

More than twice a year but less than six times 11%, 671 voice

I take care of my health and rent once a month 6%, 362 vote

I'm afraid of this procedure and try not to pass 4%, 242 vote

21.10.2019

It is necessary to take hormonal drugs with extreme caution. They are prescribed only by the attending physician, accurately calculating the dosage and duration of use. Improper use of medications can cause the development of side symptoms and aggravate the course of exacerbation of pancreatitis.

Medicines to relieve symptoms

Depending on the intensity of the clinical picture that occurs during the period of exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis, either general painkillers or drugs are prescribed, which, in addition to substances that have an analgesic effect, include antispasmodics - Atropine, Platyfillin, Gastrocepin.

In the acute stage of pancreatitis, in addition to antispasmodics, analgesics are prescribed - Pentazocine, Baralgin. If the pain is very severe and prolonged, the patient is prescribed analgesics with narcotic components in the composition - Tramal, Promedol.

The essence of the action of drugs with an analgesic effect is that they relax the pancreatic sphincter, due to which the accumulated enzyme in the organ is released and the intensity of pain decreases. Such tablets should not be taken for a long period.

If pain, nausea and vomiting do not stop after taking antispasmodics or analgesics, the patient is admitted to a hospital inpatient unit, where painkillers are administered intravenously. When vomiting, medications in tablet form do not have time to be absorbed into the gastric mucosa and leave the body along with the vomit.

The effect of anesthetic injections begins 10 minutes after administration of the drug. In case of a sharp exacerbation of pancreatitis, antispasmodics are injected intravenously after severe spasms are relieved, and then medications are prescribed in tablet form.

Antacids and antibiotics

Exacerbation of pancreatitis must be treated comprehensively; medications are selected by the doctor depending on the causes of the dysfunction of the pancreas. Antibiotics to relieve an attack of exacerbation of pancreatitis are prescribed in the following cases:

• the presence of pathogenic bacterial microflora;
• rupture of the ducts in the pancreas;
• liver dysfunction, which often occurs along with chronic pancreatitis.

Chronic pancreatitis, like many other diseases, tends to worsen from time to time under the influence of various factors. Practicing doctors know that the disease often progresses in waves, that is, a calm course during periods of remission is replaced by exacerbations. Every person diagnosed with chronic inflammation should know what to do during an exacerbation of pancreatitis.

Forms of pancreatitis

One of the functions of the pancreas is to inject enzymes into the intestines that help digest food. These substances pass through the ducts and are activated directly in the duodenum. When the ducts are clogged, enzymes have nowhere to go; they accumulate in the gland itself and begin to corrode it. An acute form of pancreatitis occurs.

For the development of chronic pancreatitis, it is enough not to pay due attention to health, and then after a certain time it is discovered that the pancreas cannot perform its functions efficiently.

The working tissue of the gland gradually dies off, and from year to year the person becomes worse and worse. Since not enough enzymes are produced, over time the gastrointestinal tract begins to function poorly. This threatens the occurrence of duodenal ulcers. Chronic pancreatitis practically does not make itself felt, and the patient’s health is deteriorating. Exacerbations occur from time to time

Forms of exacerbation of pancreatitis are mild, moderate and severe. If minor areas of the pancreas are damaged, then it works, but with reduced intensity. If local tissue death occurs, pancreatic necrosis develops. It is terrible both because of the destruction of the gland and inflammation of the abdominal cavity, that is, deadly peritonitis.

Symptoms of exacerbation

Chronic and acute forms have completely different symptoms. The pain that occurs during an exacerbation is unbearable. This condition is called pancreatic colic. The person must be in bed.

The pain feels like a belt, covers the body, radiates to the hypochondrium and the left shoulder blade.

A symptom of exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis will be nausea and painful vomiting of bile, a bitter taste in the mouth, and fat impurities are visible in the loose stool. There is also a disturbance in the level of glucose in the blood: it increases significantly. This threatens secondary diabetes. The pain and vomiting do not go away even after taking medications.

Why does an attack occur?

The chronic course of the disease can be replaced by an acute one for a number of reasons. This is often associated with the consumption of alcoholic beverages, which have a detrimental effect on the pancreas, but there are other circumstances:

• great physical activity;
• improper diet, replacing fractional 5-6 meals a day with uneven meals;
• non-compliance with diet instructions;
• unsystematic use of medications;
• violation of the drinking regime - you need to drink up to 2-2.5 liters per day.

Anyone who suffers from pancreatitis, no matter what form it occurs, needs to understand that alcohol affects the pancreas as a strong poison, destroying it and undermining a person’s already not very good health.

Duration of attacks

Depending on how the disease progresses, attacks can last for very different lengths of time. From the onset of an attack to its end, it can take two hours, two days, or even a whole week. This will depend on:

• other diseases that a person has;
• attack intensity;
• the reasons that provoked the attack.

Whether the pain is sharp or dull, constant or fleeting, a doctor’s help is necessary.

Mild pain should not be encouraging, since it may indicate significant necrosis of the gland and the death of nerve cells, which signal destructive processes.

What to do in case of exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis

It is impossible to be treated at home for such a serious illness. It is necessary to contact specialists.

Exacerbation of pancreatitis will not go away on its own. Due to the catastrophic consequences that can occur, it is at least unreasonable not to ask for qualified help.

Of course, until the ambulance arrives, certain measures should be taken, but drug treatment cannot be avoided. But here are a few simple rules that you need to know that will ease a person’s suffering before he is examined and consulted by a doctor. So, the aggravation took us by surprise. What should I do?

Cold

The first thing to do during an exacerbation is to relieve pain. It is better not to take painkillers, as they will blur the picture and it will be difficult for the doctor to make a correct diagnosis.

The compress is done simply. If you don’t have a special ice warmer, take a regular one, fill it with cold water and place it in the freezer. Ice should not form in the heating pad, but the liquid should be allowed to cool well. Apply a compress on the back side for 20 minutes. You can repeat no earlier than an hour later. Cold reduces pain and slows down the development of inflammation.

In case of exacerbation of the pancreas, doctors allow self-help measures to be taken for no more than 24 hours.

The specialist will further prescribe medications aimed at relieving swelling and pain, neutralizing enzymes that do not find a way out and destroy the pancreas. Most often, well-prescribed drug treatment is sufficient. Surgical intervention is rarely required and consists of removing dead tissue.

Peace

If the pancreas has worsened, then the patient experiences debilitating vomiting and nausea. Therefore, he needs complete rest and bed rest. You need to lie on your stomach, pulling your elbows and knees under you. This is what you need to do before the ambulance arrives.

When chronic pancreatitis worsens, the room must be kept cool. If the temperature is maintained at no more than 18 degrees, the person will feel better.

Diet

With pancreatitis, as with other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal tract), it is necessary to follow a specific diet, which clearly states what you can eat during an exacerbation of pancreatitis.

In the first days of an exacerbation, you should not eat anything. It would seem why, because the stomach digests food? It's not that simple. When even a tiny piece of food enters the stomach, the pancreas begins to secrete enzymes to process it. But the ducts do not let them through. This means that the enzymes remain in the gland and irritate it even more. Therefore, you cannot eat food for three days. We drink a little alkaline mineral water, or warm boiled water.

Nutrition for pancreatitis is regulated by diet No. 5 and 5p. The list of permitted products is quite extensive, but cooking methods are limited to boiling, steaming, and baking.

The use of a decoction of rose hips, St. John's wort, yarrow, peppermint and wormwood is encouraged. They help remove fluid from the body and reduce swelling. All drinks are consumed without sugar. You can use sweeteners instead.

Medicines

The first thing therapy for inflammation is aimed at is relieving pain and minimizing the work of the gland. Taking medications includes a whole range of drugs:

• anti-inflammatory;
• antispasmodic;
• antacids;
• enzymatic.

Proton pump inhibitors are also used - they reduce the amount of pancreatic enzymes released.

To restore the amount of nutrients, the patient is prescribed vitamin complexes, including vitamins A, groups B, E, K, D.

Treatment and first aid in hospital

Gastroenterologists note a significant increase in gastrointestinal diseases. Not the least important place here belongs to inflammation of the pancreas. To answer the question of how to relieve exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis, we note that you cannot treat yourself, even if a person knows how to do it. The disease is insidious, and even if the pain has subsided, this is not a sign that the exacerbation has lost ground.

The patient is placed on bed rest for 2-3 days, during which it is forbidden to eat. You should take medications that allow your pancreas to rest from producing enzymes. The doctor’s assistance consists of conducting thorough diagnostic measures and determining a treatment regimen.

Treatment of exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis should always occur in a hospital setting. Correct diagnosis and individually prescribed medications will help stop the attack as quickly as possible.

According to statistics, every tenth patient with exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis has to undergo surgery if serious changes in the functioning of the organ are detected. The patient himself cannot determine the severity of the disease, and self-administration of medications is life-threatening.

Antispasmodics and analgesics relieve pain and spasms. Rabeprazole or Ranitidine droppers and diuretics are prescribed.

During exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis, vascular microcirculation requires restoration. This can be done with antiplatelet agents and heparin. Enzyme preparations, for example, Creon, Pangrol, Panzinorm, correct the lack of secretion. If the examination reveals any associated inflammation, a course of antibiotics will be required.

What to do during an attack of acute pancreatitis

Unambiguous signs of acute pancreatitis:

• girdle pain;
• vomiting bile;
• bitterness in the mouth;
• diarrhea.

The disease has been well studied, diagnostic methods are known, and treatment regimens have been developed.

In acute pancreatitis, you cannot try to get rid of the disease on your own. You should call an ambulance and be treated in a hospital.

To survive the time until the patient is in the hands of doctors, it is necessary to provide him with peace, apply cold to his back, and not allow him to eat. During such difficult periods, you can only drink a little mineral water without gas or warm boiled water. Vomiting severely dehydrates the body, and careful fluid intake will help restore fluid balance.

The danger of acute pancreatitis is that organ tissue, depending on the course of the disease, may die. This can happen at different speeds, but in any case the process must be under the supervision of a doctor, who, based on indications, determines which treatment regimen should be applied in a particular case.

Chronic pancreatitis - what to do to prevent exacerbations

A person who has been diagnosed with this disease becomes, to some extent, its hostage for life.

Although doctors warn that you need to stick to the diet for about a year, no one can guarantee that this is enough and that eating fried food or drinking alcohol during a festive feast will not lead to inflammation of the pancreas. Therefore, diet and lifestyle have to be adjusted to the vagaries of the disease.

1. A person needs to adhere to fractional meals. Thus, diets No. 5 and 5p, verified over decades, insist on eating small meals five times a day. Those who are unable to comply with this regimen should remember that the likelihood of exacerbation increases. The total calorie content of the daily diet is 2500 kcal. Overeating can negatively affect the course of the disease.
2. If you have pancreatitis, you should not drink alcohol, sweets, carbonated foods, or fatty foods. The pancreas really does not like such dishes and drinks. Various spices are also prohibited.
3. The amount of liquid taken should be no less than 2 liters. This can be weak tea, jelly, compotes from various dried fruits, herbal decoctions. Sweeteners are allowed instead of sugar.
4. The lists of foods prohibited by the diet are quite long. However, this way of eating becomes a vital necessity.
5. An effective preventive measure is to visit your doctor or a highly specialized gastroenterologist. Visits should be made once every six months.
6. Spa treatment and physiotherapeutic procedures strengthen the immune system and have a very good effect on the condition of the pancreas.

Pancreatitis is a complex, serious disease fraught with serious consequences. However, paying attention to one’s health and following doctor’s orders are quite capable of prolonging a person’s full life.

Let's figure out how to relieve an exacerbation of pancreatitis, how long it lasts and what to do to avoid it? Answers to these questions are important for patients with chronic disease.

How long does the exacerbation last?

The acute phase can last from several hours to seven days, sometimes longer. How long an exacerbation of pancreatitis lasts depends on the duration of the disease and the aggressiveness of the provoking factor. A simple violation of the diet causes a short-term deterioration in well-being, and taking large amounts of alcohol, a long course of antibiotics, cytostatics, or exacerbation of cholelithiasis lead to long-lasting symptoms.

If the duration of the disease is short, an exacerbation of the process with severe pain may last a week or more. In patients with a long history of the disease, the intensity and duration of the pain component of the exacerbation decrease; other symptoms persist for a long time, but do not appear so clearly.

The duration of an exacerbation also depends on the patient’s age and the presence of concomitant diseases. Treatment usually continues for a month, and maintenance therapy lasts at least 6 months.

Signs of exacerbation of pancreatitis

In the early stages, signs of exacerbation of pancreatitis resemble the clinical picture of an acute form of the disease, occurring with severe pain. As a rule, pain decreases when bending forward and squatting.

In addition to abdominal pain, the patient presents the following complaints:

• air or food eaten;
• increased rumbling in the stomach;
• unstable stool with a tendency to diarrhea;
• the presence of undigested food particles, mucus, and blood in the stool;
• nausea that does not bring relief;
• fever, muscle pain, chills;
• fatigue, lack of appetite, irritability.

If the process is long, pain is no longer the leading one. In adult patients, complaints of yellowness of the skin and sclera come to the fore. Light-colored stool and dark urine may appear.

Symptoms

Symptoms of exacerbation of pancreatitis in patients with a short history of the disease are very similar to an acute attack. The main symptom in the clinical picture is severe and prolonged pain.

There are several types of pain syndrome, depending on its nature and location:

• Ulcer-like pain. Night and hunger pains in the epigastric region are characteristic, which requires differential diagnosis with.
• Pain resembling left-sided renal colic. Localized in the left side and lumbar region on the left.
• Pain simulating acute appendicitis. They are localized in the right hypochondrium and in every 2-3 patients they are accompanied by the appearance of yellowness of the skin and sclera. If jaundice appears, exclusion is necessary
• Pain accompanied by impaired intestinal motility (belching, nausea and vomiting after eating make them similar to manifestations of intestinal dyskinesia).
• Intense pain without a specific localization, as in the picture of an acute abdomen with the development of peritonitis.

On examination: the skin is pale, dry, there is a whitish coating on the tongue; with a long course of the disease, atrophy of the taste buds is possible. By palpating the abdomen, the doctor can determine a dense, enlarged and painful head of the pancreas. The abdomen is swollen, painful in the epigastric region and left hypochondrium.

With exacerbation of pancreatitis in patients who have suffered from this disease for many years, abdominal pain is less pronounced and bothers them for a short time. This is explained by progressive pancreatic insufficiency due to fibrotic changes in its tissues.

The following manifestations of pathology become dominant:

• Intermittent jaundice of varying severity.
• Steatorrhea (frequent, foul-smelling stools with a characteristic greasy sheen).
• Malabsorption syndrome with severe weight loss.
• Diabetes mellitus with high blood glucose levels, resistant to correction with sugar-lowering drugs.

Even a chronic process that occurs in an erased form with a mild clinical exacerbation is dangerous, as it leads to gradual degeneration of the pancreas.

Exacerbation during pregnancy

Chronic pancreatitis can worsen during pregnancy. During this period, the body experiences overload, as a result of which there is a risk of activation of any inflammatory process.

Deterioration of pancreatic function during pregnancy can also be provoked by an unbalanced diet, diet violations due to altered taste preferences of a woman.

What to do in case of exacerbation?

What to do if pancreatitis worsens? First of all, you need to call an ambulance.

If symptoms of pancreatitis appear, first aid for an exacerbation includes the following steps:

• complete exclusion of food and liquid intake;
• maintaining rest, you need to lie in bed on your back; if you are vomiting, you can take a position lying on your side with your knees pressed to your stomach;
• using an ice pack as a cold compress on the abdominal area.

After delivery to the hospital, the patient will be examined, and based on the results obtained, the doctor will choose the most effective therapeutic tactics. It is prohibited to self-prescribe pills and administer medications during exacerbation of pancreatitis.

If the exacerbation of a chronic process is limited to nausea after eating, the appearance of diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort, you still need to consult a specialist to avoid complications. After the examination, the doctor will decide where it is necessary to undergo treatment - inpatient or outpatient.

Is it possible to relieve an exacerbation at home?

Aggravated pancreatitis always carries a potential threat of the development of necrotic changes in the pancreatic tissue. Pancreatic necrosis requires urgent medical attention in a surgical hospital, as it can quickly lead to death.

Many patients with exacerbation of pancreatitis are interested in how to relieve pain. But it is important to remember that at home, while waiting for doctors, the patient should under no circumstances take it. They will not have the desired effect, but may distort the clinical picture. A tablet (No-spa, Papaverine) will alleviate the patient’s condition.

If the degree of exacerbation of the chronic inflammatory process allows treatment at home, it is necessary to strictly follow all the doctor’s recommendations. In this case, the main therapeutic method is following a diet, drinking regimen and taking prescribed medications.

Treatment methods

If pancreatitis is in the acute stage, treatment is aimed at suppressing the production of proteolytic enzymes by the gland that destroy its own tissue. Complex therapy should be used against the background of a protective regime with the complete exclusion of any stress. The main role is given to drug therapy.

The following medications are used for exacerbation of pancreatitis in adults:

• solutions for detoxification infusion therapy;
• anesthetics;
• antacids;
• protease inhibitors;
• antispasmodics;
• pancreatic enzymes;
• anticholinergics;
• antibiotics;
• sedatives.

Which drug from different groups is optimal is always decided on an individual basis. In the phase of subsiding inflammation, confirmed by laboratory and instrumental methods, exercise therapy and physiotherapy (electric and phonophoresis with anesthetics and antispasmodics, mud therapy, magnetic therapy) are added to the treatment.

How and how to treat exacerbation of pancreatitis, if conservative methods do not help, pain persists, and there is a threat of complications? All these circumstances make urgent surgical intervention necessary.

Folk remedies

How to relieve an exacerbation of pancreatitis at home using folk remedies? In case of exacerbation, resorting to the use of folk recipes is not only useless, but also dangerous. Various infusions and decoctions of medicinal plants are widely used for the chronic form of the disease in remission. Their choice should be agreed with a gastroenterologist.

Trying treatment with folk remedies can waste valuable time and create a serious threat to life. In the hospital, after the inflammatory phenomena have subsided, if the attending specialist allows, the patient can take herbal and vitamin teas, decoctions, and infusions.

Choleretic herbs are effective for exacerbation of pancreatitis, but their use is possible only in the absence of gallstones. The collection should contain corn silk, tansy, rose hips, St. John's wort, chamomile, immortelle, and mint. You should mix dry medicinal raw materials, prepare an infusion and take it warm before meals 3 times a day for a month.

A decoction made from chicory root also has a good effect. It should be taken between meals 3 times a day, 100 ml.

You can mix the following dried medicinal herbs in equal parts: St. John's wort, sage, chamomile, calendula, wormwood. Then prepare a decoction in a water bath and take half a glass before meals for a month.

Diet for exacerbation of pancreatitis

The diet, frequency of food intake and its volume are regulated by the treating specialist.

• 1 day - fasting;
• Day 2 - drinking alkaline mineral water, rosehip decoction;
• On days 3-5, liquid grain porridge with water is allowed.

Then there is a gradual expansion of the diet: the consumption of vegetable soups, lean varieties of meat and fish is allowed. Proper nutrition is the basis for the treatment of pancreatic inflammation and its prevention.

Food should be boiled or steamed. You need to eat often, take food warm and in small quantities. Fried, spicy foods, carbonated drinks, and canned food are strictly prohibited. It is important that mineral water consumed during acute pancreatitis be degassed.

Prevention

To avoid the progression of pathology, you need to know why the disease can worsen and avoid the influence of negative factors.

The following preventive measures must be taken:

• strict adherence to diet No. 5a;
• giving up alcohol;
• compliance with the work and rest regime with the exception of physical and nervous overload;
• clinical observation by a gastroenterologist with prescribed tests and examinations at least twice a year;
• a course of pancreatic enzymes prescribed by a specialist;
• control cholesterol and blood sugar levels;
• courses of medications that normalize gastric and intestinal motility several times a year;
• therapy of concomitant chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• exclusion of toxic effects on the body - uncontrolled use of medications, occupational hazards;
• treatment in sanatoriums of the appropriate profile.

Chronic pancreatitis is an insidious and dangerous disease, exacerbations of which significantly reduce the quality of life and cause serious damage to health. To avoid them, you need to regularly see a gastroenterologist, take supportive therapy, and lead a healthy lifestyle. Complete recovery is impossible, but the patient’s main task is to live and be treated in such a way as to make exacerbations rare and harmless to health.

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