Acute pancreatitis

[Monty]

Acute pancreatitis is sudden inflammation of the pancreas that may be mild or life threatening but usually subsides.

Gallstones and alcohol abuse are the main causes of acute pancreatitis.
Severe abdominal pain is the predominant symptom.
Blood tests and imaging tests, such as computed tomography, help the doctor make the diagnosis.
Whether mild, moderate, or severe, acute pancreatitis usually requires hospitalization.

(See also Overview of Pancreatitis.)
The pancreas is an organ in the upper abdomen that produces digestive fluids and the hormone insulin . The part of the pancreas that produces hormones, especially insulin , tends not to be affected by acute pancreatitis.
In acute pancreatitis, inflammation develops quickly and subsides within a few days but can last for to a few weeks. In chronic pancreatitis, the pancreas is persistently inflamed, which causes permanent damage.