How serious is pancreatitis?
Disease description:
Doctor, my husband suddenly experienced abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting recently. After going to the hospital, he was diagnosed with pancreatitis. We are very concerned and would like to ask if pancreatitis can be cured.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Gao Jun
Under normal circumstances, pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease of the pancreatic tissue, with varying severity. Mild acute pancreatitis usually can be cured with timely treatment, but severe acute pancreatitis is more serious.
The causes of pancreatitis are complex, and common etiologies include gallstones, excessive alcohol consumption, and hyperlipidemia. Based on disease severity, pancreatitis can be classified as mild acute pancreatitis or severe acute pancreatitis. Mild acute pancreatitis mainly presents as pancreatic edema, with relatively mild symptoms such as mild abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Most patients can recover within a short period after treatment, and the prognosis is generally good.
Severe acute pancreatitis is a life-threatening condition, often complicated by serious complications such as pancreatic necrosis, infection, and hemorrhage. It may also involve multiple organ failure, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute renal failure, and heart failure, with a high mortality rate.
Once symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting occur, prompt medical attention should be sought to establish a diagnosis through clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, and imaging examinations. Patients should also pay attention to quitting smoking and abstaining from alcohol, maintaining a low-fat, high-fiber diet, increasing fluid intake appropriately, and avoiding foods high in fat.
