Medical History and Physical Exam for Pancreatitis
Your doctor will ask you questions about your medical history and do
a physical exam before diagnosing
pancreatitis.
Medical history
Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms, overall health,
behaviors, and medical history.
- Where is the pain, and what does it feel
like?
- Have you been vomiting or feeling nauseated?
- Do
the symptoms occur after drinking alcohol or eating?
- Does sitting
up or leaning forward reduce the pain?
- Have you had similar
symptoms before?
- What antibiotics or other medicines are you
taking?
- Do you have a family history of
gallstone problems?
- Have you ever had
peptic ulcer disease?
- Do you drink large
amounts of alcohol frequently?
- Do you have
cystic fibrosis?
Physical exam
Your doctor will examine you for the following signs of
pancreatitis.
- Your upper abdomen may be
tender.
- You may look very ill. (This may be a sign of severe
pancreatitis. In mild disease, people may not appear sick.)
- Your
pulse may be fast (100 to 150 beats per minute).
- Your breathing may
be shallow.
- Your skin may be yellow (jaundice),
indicating possible blockage of the bile duct.
- Purple patches may
appear on your abdomen or low back, a sign that fluid has leaked from
pancreatic tissues because of inflammation.
- Your liver may be
enlarged if pancreatitis is caused by alcohol abuse.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Peter J. Kahrilas, MD - Gastroenterology |
| Last Revised | May 25, 2011 |