Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis: Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. There are two kinds of pancreatitis, acute and chronic. The primary causes of pancreatitis are alcohol and gallstones. Symptoms of acute pancreatitis include nausea, fever, dehydration, and rapid heartbeat. Symptoms of chronic pancreatitis include bleeding from anemia, jaundice and other liver problems, weight loss, and diabetes. Treatment of individuals with pancreatitis caused by alcohol abuse is stopping all alcohol use. Examples of other treatments may include gallbladder removal, antibiotics, or change in diet (high carbohydrate low-fat diet).
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Abdominal Pain in Adults
Abdominal pain in adults can range from a mild stomach ache to severe pain. Examples of causes of abdominal pain in adults include appendicitis, gallbladder disease, gastric ulcers, pancreatitis, heart attack, kidney stones, diverticulitis, shingles, spider bites, and more. Information about when to seek medical care for abdominal pain is also provided. -
Alcoholism
Alcohol problems vary in severity from mild to life-threatening and affect the individual, the person's family, and society in numerous adverse ways. Signs of a drinking problem include insomnia, loss of employment, blackouts, depression, auto accidents, bruises, frequent falls, and anxiety. Treatment involves stabilization, detoxification, and rehabilitation of the alcohol-dependent person. -
Ascites
Ascites is an accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity (abdominal cavity). The primary cause of ascites is liver disease such as; cirrhosis, acute liver failure (Tylenol, acetaminophen overdose), Budd-Chiari syndrome, and cancer. Other causes of ascites include congestive heart failure, nephrotic syndrome, pancreatic disorders, diseases of the ovary, hypothyroidism, and direct irritation of the peritoneum. Symptoms of ascites include abdominal pain, shortness of breath, easy bruising, and edema (swelling). Treatment for ascites depends on the cause. -
Dehydration in Adults
Dehydration occurs when the loss of body fluids (mostly water), exceeds the amount that is taken in. Causes of dehydration include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, diseases (diabetes), impaired ability to drink, lack of access to safe drinking water, and injuries to the skin. Common symptoms of dehydration include dizziness, dry skin, headache, low urine output, tiredness, sleepiness, dry mouth, and increased thirst. Treatment of dehydration depends upon the severity of the condition. -
Dehydration in Children
Dehydration in children can result from not drinking enough liquids, vomiting, diarrhea, or combination of these conditions. Causes of dehydration in children include viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections, diabetes, and increased sweating, and others. Symptoms include sunken eyes, decrease in urination, no tears when crying, dry mouth, lethargy, and irritability. Treatment at home includes proper fluid replacement. Some cases of dehydration are so severe they may require hospitalization. -
Gallstones
Gallstones are solid particles that form from bile in the gallbladder. There are two types of gallstones, cholesterol and pigment. Causes of gallstones vary, and risk factors include female gender, obesity, crash dieting, and some medications. There are a variety of treatments for gallstones depending on the severity of the condition. -
Indigestion
Indigestion (dyspepsia, non-acid dyspepsia) is a description for a feeling of fullness and/or discomfort in the upper abdomen. Symptoms of indigestion can include heartburn, belching, bloating, and nausea. Causes of indigestion can be disease, conditions, medication, and lifestyle factors. Treatment of indigestion depends on the cause. -
Mumps
Mumps is a disease, usually of children, caused by a virus. The hallmark symptoms of mumps is swelling of the salivary glands. Symptoms and signs include: fever, headache, gland swelling, testicular pain, abdominal pain, seizure, difficulty swallowing, and orchitis (testicle inflammation). Mumps treatment focuses on relieving symptoms. -
Newborn Jaundice
Jaundice in newborns occurs most commonly because the liver of a newborn baby is not mature enough to remove bilirubin from the blood. Causes of newborn jaundice include physiologic jaundice, neonatal jaundice, polycythemia, cephalohematoma, the baby swallowing blood during birth, a mother with diabetes, and other rare conditions. Newborn jaundice symptoms include yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, fever, poor feeding, and ill appearance. Generally, newborn jaundice can be treated with phototherapy at home, or at the hospital if necessary. -
Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive cancers, one of the most non-responsive to treatment, and one of the hardest to diagnose; in one recent year, 84 % of those diagnosed in the U.S. died of the disease. It affects the pancreas, which is a crucial abdominal organ that produces insulin to maintain blood sugar, and it performs other functions crucial to digestion and metabolism. -
Abdominal Pain in Children
Abdominal pain in children can range from trivial to life-threatening. Symptoms of abdominal pain range from vomiting, diarrhea, fever, groin pain, urinary problems, or skin rash. The location of the abdominal pain may be around the belly button, occurs only at night, while eating. The pain pain also may be intermittent. Treatment of abdominal pain in children is depends on the cause. Possible causes of abdominal pain in children include infections, food related (food allergy or food poisoning), poisoning from medication, food, household products, appendicitis, diabetes, or spider bites. -
Stool Color Changes
Stool color changes and textures to black, tarry, sticky, red, maroon, clay-colored, gray, pale, and yellow can have a variety of causes. Causes include hemorrhoids, pancreatitis, tumors, alcohol abuse, liver disease, cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, cancers, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticular bleeding due to diverticulitis, medication, changes in diet, and other conditions. Treatment of changes in stool color depend on the cause.
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Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis Topic Guide - Visuals
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Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis Topic Guide – Related Topics
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