Self-diagnosis
Chronic and acute pancreatitis in the elderly
Chronic and acute pancreatitis is most common in the elderly and elderly. As a rule, in these cases, pancreatitis occurs against the background of concomitant diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, such as chronic gastritis, cholecystitis, enterocolitis and hepatitis.
As you know, with age, progressive atherosclerotic vascular lesions and sclerotic changes in the gland itself begin to play an increasing role in the mechanism of pancreatitis development. This can not but lead to a decrease in the compensatory and functional capabilities of the pancreas.
In patients of senile and elderly age, the clinical picture of chronic pancreatitis is often detected at the very beginning of the disease, although they have less intense pain attacks and they occur after exercise or when the diet is not followed. But older people are more likely than young people to have dyspeptic disorders (decreased appetite, nausea, bloating). In addition, they lose weight quickly.
Clinical manifestations of pancreatitis in the elderly are often overshadowed by concomitant diseases. It is not easy to make a correct diagnosis. Here, first of all, a differential diagnosis of pancreatitis from pancreatic cancer, chronic enterocolitis, chronic dysentery, cholecystitis, stomach ulcers and other abdominal diseases is required.
When making a differential diagnosis, it is important to consider the signs most characteristic of chronic pancreatitis:
- Pain in the upper abdomen with spreading to the left and above the navel.
- Pain with pressure in the area of the projection of the pancreas on the abdominal cavity.
- A high level of amylase in the urine of newly issued
- Presence of sugar in the urine
- Disorder in the digestion of proteins and fats, accompanied by the so-called pancreatogenic diarrhea and emaciation.
- The data of laboratory researches (ultrasonic echolocation, computed tomography, angiography, radioisotope scanning).
