Chronic pancreatitis is a progressive inflammatory disorder that leads to irreversible destruction of exocrine and endocrine pancreatic parenchyma caused by atrophy and/ or replacement with fibrotic tissue.

SYMPTOMS OF CHRONIC PANCREATITIS

• Upper abdominal pain
• Abdominal pain that radiates to your back
• Abdominal pain that feels worse after eating
• Fever
• Rapid pulse
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Tenderness when touching the abdomen
• Losing weight without trying
• Oily, smelly stools (steatorrhea)

CAUSES OF CHRONIC PANCREATITIS

Conditions that can lead to pancreatitis include:

• Abdominal surgery
• Alcoholism
• Certain medications
• Cystic fibrosis
• Gallstones
• High calcium levels in the blood (hypercalcemia), which may be caused by an overactive parathyroid gland (hyperparathyroidism)
• High triglyceride levels in the blood (hypertriglyceridemia)
• Infection
• Injury to the abdomen
• Obesity
• Pancreatic cancer

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), a procedure used to treat gallstones, also can lead to pancreatitis.

Sometimes, a cause for pancreatitis is never found.

RISK FACTORS

Factors that increase risk of pancreatitis include:

Excessive alcohol consumption

Cigarette smoking

Obesity

Family history of pancreatitis

COMPLICATIONS OF CHRONIC PANCREATITIS

Pancreatitis can cause serious complications, including:

• Pseudocyst-Acute pancreatitis can cause fluid and debris to collect in cystlike pockets in our pancreas. A large pseudocyst that ruptures can cause complications such as internal bleeding and infection.
• Infection-Acute pancreatitis can make our pancreas vulnerable to bacteria and infection. .
• Kidney failure-Acute pancreatitis may cause kidney failure, which can be treated with dialysis if the kidney failure is severe and persistent.
• Breathing problems-Acute pancreatitis can cause chemical changes in our body that affect our lung function, causing the level of oxygen in your blood to fall to dangerously low levels.
• Diabetes-Damage to insulin-producing cells in our pancreas from chronic pancreatitis can lead to diabetes, a disease that affects the way our body uses blood sugar.
• Malnutrition-Both acute and chronic pancreatitis can cause our pancreas to produce fewer of the enzymes that are needed to break down and process nutrients from the food we eat. This can lead to malnutrition, diarrhea and weight loss, even though one may be eating the same foods or the same amount of food.
• Pancreatic cancer- Long-standing inflammation in our pancreas caused by chronic pancreatitis is a risk factor for developing pancreatic cancer.

HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT FOR CHRONIC PANCREATITIS

PHOSPHORUS : Useful for chronic pancreatitis with desire for cold water.Useful for fears and haemorrhages

IODUM : Useful for chronic pancreatitis with pain in the pit of the stomach, above the navel and in the back. There is profound debility and great emaciation.

IRIS VER : Useful for chronic pancreatitis with inflammation of the pancreas. There is bilious, acrid stools, burn like fire.

RL 36