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Overview
Acute pancreatitis is a condition where the pancreas becomes inflamed (swollen) over a short period of time.
The pancreas is a small organ, located behind the stomach, that helps with digestion.
Most people with acute pancreatitis start to feel better within about a week and have no further problems. But some people with severe acute pancreatitis can go on to develop serious complications.
Acute pancreatitis is different to chronic pancreatitis, where the pancreas has become permanently damaged from inflammation over many years.
Symptoms
The main symptom of acute pancreatitis is a severe pain that develops suddenly in the centre of your tummy.
This aching pain often gets steadily worse and can travel along your back.
Other symptoms of acute pancreatitis include:
- feeling or being sick (vomiting)
- indigestion
- a high temperature of 38C or more (fever)
- yellowing of the whites of the eyes, and yellowing of the skin although this may be less obvious on brown or black skin (jaundice)
- tenderness or swelling of the tummy
- fast heartbeat (tachycardia) or rapid breathing
Eating or drinking may make you feel worse very quickly, especially if you eat fatty foods.
Leaning forward or curling into a ball may help to relieve the pain, but lying flat on your back often makes it worse.
Acute pancreatitis caused by gallstones usually develops after eating a large meal.
If the condition is caused by alcohol, the pain often develops 6 to 12 hours after drinking an excessive amount of alcohol.
Causes
Acute pancreatitis is usually caused by gallstones or drinking too much alcohol, but sometimes no cause can be identified.
Gallstones
Gallstones are small stones that form in your gallbladder.
They can sometimes trigger acute pancreatitis if they move out of the gallbladder and block the opening of the pancreas.
Alcohol consumption
It's not fully understood how alcohol causes the pancreas to become swollen (inflamed). One theory is that it causes enzymes inside the pancreas to start digesting it.
Whatever the cause, there is a clear link between alcohol use and acute pancreatitis.
Binge drinking – drinking a lot of alcohol in a short period of time – is also thought to increase your risk of developing acute pancreatitis.
Other causes
Less common causes of acute pancreatitis include:
- high blood fat levels (hypertriglyceridaemia)
- accidental damage or injury to the pancreas – for example, during a procedure to remove gallstones or examine the pancreas
- a side effect of medicine
- viruses like mumps or measles
- high blood calcium levels (hypercalcaemia)
- the immune system attacking the pancreas (autoimmune pancreatitis)
Risk Factors
Severe pancreatitis
You're probably more likely to develop severe pancreatitis if you:
- are over 70
- are obese (you have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above)
- have 2 or more alcoholic drinks a day
- smoke
- have a family history of pancreatitis
Diagnosis
Acute pancreatitis is usually diagnosed in hospital, where you'll receive treatment and be monitored for any complications.
A doctor will ask you about your symptoms, family history and may feel your tummy – it will be very tender if you have acute pancreatitis.
They'll also do a blood test, and sometimes a CT (computed tomography) scan, to help confirm the diagnosis.
At first, it can be difficult to tell whether your acute pancreatitis is mild or severe. You'll be monitored closely for signs of serious problems, such as organ failure.
Further testing
You may have further tests to help determine the severity of your condition and assess your risk of developing more serious complications
These may include:
- a CT scan – where a series of X-rays are taken to build up a more detailed image of your pancreas
- an MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) scan – where strong magnetic fields and radio waves are used to produce a detailed image of the inside of your body
- an ultrasound scan – where sound waves are used to create a picture of your gallbladder to detect gallstones, and a picture of your pancreas
Treatment Options
Treatment for acute pancreatitis aims to help control the condition and manage any symptoms.
This usually involves admission to hospital. You may be given fluids directly into a vein (intravenous fluids), pain relief, liquid food through a tube in your tummy and oxygen through tubes in your nose.
Most people with acute pancreatitis get better within a week and are well enough to leave hospital after a few days.
Recovery can take longer in severe cases, as some people can develop complications
When To See A Doctor
See a GP immediately if you suddenly develop severe abdominal pain.
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