Are Those Symptoms Really Caused By Pancreatitis? 4 Conditions That Mimic The Symptoms Of Pancreatitis
If you are like many others, when you experience pain in your abdominal area you may shrug it off as only being a stomach ache from something you ate. Unfortunately, pain in abdominal area can be the result of a serious condition, such as pancreatitis. Symptoms of pancreatitis often include upper abdominal pain, pain in the abdomen that radiates to your back and/or worsens after eating, vomiting, nausea and fever.
Unfortunately, these symptoms may not actually be the sign of having pancreatitis. There are a lot of diseases that mimic pancreatitis, which is why it is critical that seek medical attention from a gastroenterologist (a subsection of internal medicine) at the first onset of these symptoms. Here are a few serious conditions that mimic the symptoms of pancreatitis.
Cholecystitis
Cholecystitis is one of the most common diseases that mimic the symptoms of pancreatitis. Although the symptoms are similar to pancreatitis, cholecystitis actually involves the gallbladder and occurs when the gallbladder becomes inflamed. The most prevalent cause of cholecystitis is from the cystic duct of the gallbladder getting blocked with gallstones, a process known as cholelithiais. The blockage causes pressure and frequent infections in the gallbladder, ultimately resulting in severe inflammatory pain your abdomen, just like pancreatitis.
Acute Mesenteric Ischemia
Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is an extremely dangerous condition that causes severe pain in the abdomen, which may be fatal if it work its way up to your heart. The initial symptoms in your abdomen are often thought to be a result of pancreatitis. This condition is caused by the lack of blood flow to the mesenteric vessels, which results in an ischemia, which happens when there is not enough blow flow to various parts of your body and organs. With acute mesenteric ischemia, the wall of the bowels will become gangrenous. This condition can also be present in conjunction with acute pancreatitis, which significantly increases the severity of the risk of fatality.
Bacterial Pneumonia
Bacterial pneumonia can be thought of as having pancreatitis in your lungs. Bacterial pneumonia can infect one or both of your lungs and spread from lung to the other. Just like pancreatitis affects various sections of the pancreas, causing pain in certain areas of your abdomen, bacterial pneumonia can settle into one section of the lung, causing major discomfort. The bacteria in the lungs creates the pain by causing inflammation in your lung sacs, filling them with fluids and other cellular junk, which causes pressure and pain in the upper abdomen.
Viral Hepatitis
Viral hepatitis is a gastrointestinal issue that specifically affects the liver. Like pancreatitis, viral hepatitis will first appear in an acute form and may later present itself as chronic. Viral hepatitis causes inflammation and damage to the liver, which ultimately causes severe abdominal pain. Depending in the severity of the inflammation, the pain from viral hepatitis may also radiate towards your back and you will also experience other symptoms similar to pancreatitis, including a fever, nausea and vomiting.
If you are experiencing any symptoms that are similar to the symptoms of pancreatitis, it is essential that you seek medical attention from a gastroenterologist as soon as possible. Many of these conditions can be fatal, including pancreatitis, if not properly treated as soon as possible. If you do not have a gastroenterologist, it is best to visit your family doctor or contact your medical insurance provider for a recommendation. For more information, contact a place like Broadway Medical Clinic, LLP.
