Clinical Nutrition

Lesson 21: Pancreatitis

Clinical features

• Steady, severe and gnawing pain in upper abdomen.
• Nausea, vomiting, fever, tachycardia, abdominal distention
• Decreased levels of serum calcium, sodium and potassium.
• Hyper metabolic state.
• Serum amylase levels are used as a diagnostic test for pancreatitis. They are elevated within 24-28 hours after the onset of the disease.
• At a later stage diabetes, steatorrhoea and weight loss are observed.
• Hypotension
• Defect in the absorption of vitamin B12.