What Is Acute Pancreatitis?
The pancreas is an organ located behind the stomach and near
the small intestine. It produces and distributes insulin, digestive enzymes,
and other hormones that your body needs. Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an
inflammation of the pancreas. It occurs suddenly and will cause pain and
swelling in the upper abdominal (or epigastric) region, with the pain often
radiating to the back area. AP can spread to other organs or develop into
chronic pancreatitis if it’s not treated.
What Causes Acute Pancreatitis?
The cause of acute pancreatitis may be direct or indirect.
Direct causes are those that affect the pancreas itself or its tissues or
ducts. Indirect causes are those that result from diseases or conditions that
originate somewhere else in the body.
One of the major causes of acute pancreatitis is having
gallstones. Gallstones lodge in the common bile duct and press on the
pancreatic duct. This impairs the flow of fluid to and from the pancreas and
Other direct causes of acute pancreatitis include:
- sudden immune
system attacks on the pancreas, or autoimmune pancreatitis
- pancreatic or
gallbladder damage from surgery or injury
- excessive fats
called triglycerides in your blood
Indirect causes of acute pancreatitis include:
- cystic fibrosis, which is
a serious condition that affects your
lungs, liver, and pancreas
- Kawasaki disease, which
is a disease that occurs in children
younger than age 5
- viral infections, such as the mumps and mycoplasma
- Reye’s syndrome, which is
a virus that may affect the liver as
- certain medications that contain estrogen or
Who Is at Risk for Acute Pancreatitis?
You may be at risk for pancreatic inflammation if you drink
too much alcohol. The National Institutes of
Health (NIH) defines that as more than one drink per day for
women and a maximum of two drinks per day for men. Men are more at risk than
women for developing alcohol-related pancreatitis.
Smoking tobacco also increases your chance of AP. Smoking and drinking rates
are similar in black and white Americans, but black Americans are more than two times as likely to develop
AP. Having a family history of cancer, inflammation, or another condition of
the pancreas also places you at risk.
Recognizing the Symptoms of Acute Pancreatitis
The predominant symptom of
acute pancreatitis is abdominal pain.
The pain may vary depending on
- It can be very painful within minutes of
drinking or consuming food.
- It may spread from your abdomen to your back or
left shoulder blade area.
- It may last for several days at a time.
- It may be more painful when you lie directly on
- jaundice-like appearance
Other major symptoms of acute
Diagnosing Acute Pancreatitis
Your doctor can diagnose AP by using blood tests and scans.
The blood test will look for enzymes (amylase and lipase) the pancreas is
leaking. An ultrasound, or a CT or MRI scan will allow your doctor to see any
abnormalities in or around your pancreas. Your doctor will also ask about your
medical history and ask you to describe your discomfort.
Treating Acute Pancreatitis
You may be admitted to the hospital for further testing and
to make sure you get enough fluids, usually through intravenous methods. Your
doctor may order medications to clear up the inflammation and any infection
that may have set in. If these treatments don’t work, surgery to remove damaged
tissue, drain fluid, or repair the blocked duct may be required. If gallstones
caused the problem, you may need surgery to remove the gallbladder.
Preventing Acute Pancreatitis
You can help prevent AP by limiting the amount of alcohol
you drink. If you’ve already had a case of pancreatitis and haven’t changed
risky behaviors such as drinking alcohol, you could develop it again.
Children under 19 should not take aspirin unless prescribed
by their physician. Aspirin may cause Reye’s syndrome in children, triggering
What Is to Be Expected in the Long Term?
Pancreatitis can cause serious pain in the short term.
Untreated cases and recurrences can lead to a chronic problem. The good news is
that most cases can be treated. The symptoms of pancreatitis can be confusing.
Symptoms such as stomachaches and back pain can have other causes. If you
notice the symptoms mentioned and you have reason to believe they might be
related to your pancreas, you should see your doctor.