Disability Online home > Pancreatitis explained Health Information >
Health conditions >
Digestive system >
Other conditions > Pancreatitis explained
Pancreatitis explained
The pancreas is a gland that secretes both digestive enzymes and important hormones. Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, which can either be acute or chronic. Around half of all people with chronic pancreatitis are heavy drinkers or alcoholics, which makes alcohol consumption one of the most common causes. Gallstones cause most of the remaining cases. In rare cases, pancreatitis can be caused by:
- Trauma or surgery to the pancreas region
- Inherited abnormalities of the pancreas
- Inherited disorders of metabolism
- Viruses (particularly mumps)
- Medications (including some diuretics), which can also trigger inflammation.
Treatment options
Treatment options for pancreatitis may include:
- Managing the underlying disorder (if necessary)
- Removal of gallstones
- Strictly avoiding alcohol, if this is the cause
- Taking pancreatic enzymes in tablet form to aid digestion
- Limiting foods until the pancreas has settled down again.
The dual roles of the pancreas
The pancreas is one of the body’s biggest glands. Its dual roles are:
- The exocrine pancreas - produces alkaline substances to counteract stomach acids before food enters the small intestine, and makes enzymes to help break down food into its smaller components. These secretions travel along the pancreatic duct system and enter the intestine through a narrow opening called the papilla. ‘Exocrine’ refers to glands that secrete their substances through ducts to specific targets.
- The endocrine pancreas - produces hormones such as insulin, which helps to regulate the amount of sugar circulating in the blood. Problems with insulin production can lead to diabetes. ‘Endocrine’ refers to glands that secrete their substances into the bloodstream.
Acute pancreatitis is a sudden, debilitating attack of severe upper abdominal pain. Pancreatic enzymes irritate and burn the pancreas, and leak out into the abdominal cavity. Complications include respiratory, kidney or heart failure, all of which can be fatal. The commonest cause of severe acute pancreatitis is blockage of the pancreatic duct by gallstones. This can sometimes occur even if the gallbladder has been previously removed. When triggered by excessive alcohol consumption, acute pancreatitis usually resolves itself with rest and abstinence from drinking.
Common symptoms of an acute attack include:
- Severe abdominal pain, often spreading through into the back
- Bloating
- Fever
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Collapse.
Chronic pancreatitis is characterised by recurring bouts of pancreatic inflammation, often even when known triggers are eliminated. Alcoholics are at increased risk of developing this condition. Over time, the pancreas may be damaged, or parts of it destroyed, by the relentless inflammation. This leads to digestive upsets. The person may pass fatty, foul-smelling stools or even drops of oil. The damage to the pancreas is typically permanent. Some people with chronic pancreatitis suffer recurrent or even constant abdominal pain, which may be severe. Other symptoms include steady weight loss, caused by the body’s inability to properly digest and absorb food. If much of the pancreas has been damaged, loss of insulin production can cause diabetes. Chronic pancreatitis can contribute to the development of pancreatic cancer.
Methods of diagnosis
Acute pancreatitis generally causes severe pain and the sufferer will need emergency treatment in a hospital. Pancreatitis is generally diagnosed quickly, by examination of the abdomen, and confirmed using a series of medical tests, including:
- General tests - such as blood tests, physical examination and x-rays.
- Ultrasound - sound waves form a picture that detects the presence of gallstones.
- CT scan - a specialised x-ray takes three-dimensional pictures of the pancreas.
Treatment depends on the causes and severity of the condition, but may include:
Acute pancreatitis
- Hospital care - in all cases of acute pancreatitis.
- Intensive care in hospital - in cases of severe acute pancreatitis.
- Fasting and intravenous fluids - until the inflammation settles down.
- Endoscopy - a thin tube is inserted through your oesophagus to allow the doctor to see your pancreas. This device is be used to inject dye into the bile ducts and pancreas. Gallstones can be seen and removed directly.
- Surgery - if gallstones are present, removing the gallbladder will help prevent further attacks. In rare cases, surgery is needed to remove damaged or dead areas of the pancreas.
- Lifestyle change - eliminating alcohol.
- Lowering fat intake
- Supplementing digestion by taking pancreatic enzyme tablets with food
- Eliminating alcohol
- Insulin injections, if the endocrine function of the pancreas is compromised
- Analgesics for pain.
- Your doctor
- Gastroenterologist.
- Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, which can be either acute or chronic.
- Treatment options include fasting until the inflammation subsides, removing gallstones, abstaining from alcohol, medications and surgery.
Related articles:
Endoscopy.
Hyperglycaemia.
Pancreas explained.
Pancreatic cancer.
This page has been sourced from the Better Health Channel and produced in consultation with, and approved by the following sponsor. The sponsor logo links to more information relevant to this article.
Print a fact sheet
To print a fact sheet, open the PDF (Portable Document Format) version of this article. The PDF has been prepared by the Better Health Channel. You will need Adobe Acrobat or a recent-version browser to display the file. You can download Adobe Acrobat from the Adobe website.
Pancreatitis explained fact sheet in PDF format.
Article publication date: 10/04/2001
Last reviewed: 30/04/2007
Quality assurance
This article, like all health articles on the Disability Online, is sourced from Better Health Channel and has passed through a rigorous and exhaustive approval process. It is also regularly updated. For more information see Better Health Channel quality assurance page.Return to top.
