Acute pancreatitis history and symptoms

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Raviteja Guddeti, M.B.B.S. [2]

Overview

Patient history should include the evaluation of risk factors for pancreatitis, such as heavy alcohol use, medications, family history, history of autoimmune diseases, and history of gallstone diseases. Common symptoms of acute pancreatitis include severe epigastric abdominal pain (which worsens on eating) radiating to the back and and the shoulder blades, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, chills

History

Obtaining the right history assists in making a precise diagnosis in acute pancreatitis. The following history should be obtained from a patient presenting with acute abdominal pain:

• Onset, duration, location, radiation, aggravating and relieving factors of abdominal pain
• Alcohol abuse
• Gall stone disease
• Diabetes mellitus
• Hyperlipidemia
• Steroid abuse
• History of medication (which are known to cause pancreatitis) intake
• Autoimmune diseases like SLE
• Family history of pancreatitis, hyperlipidemia

Common Symptoms

Common symptoms include:

• Severe upper abdominal pain. The pain:
  • May be worse within minutes after eating or drinking at first, especially if foods have a high fat content
  • Becomes constant and more severe, lasting for several days
  • May be worse when lying flat on the back
  • May spread (radiate) to the back or below the left shoulder blade
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite.
• Fever / Chills
• Shock, hemodynamic instability
• Mild yellowing of the skin
• Hiccups

Less Common Symptoms

Other symptoms that may occur with this disease:

• Indigestion
• Clay-colored stools
• Gaseous abdominal fullness
• Hiccups
• Skin rash or lesion
• Swollen abdomen