Acute pancreatitis is a serious condition where the pancreas becomes inflamed over a short period of time.
The pancreas is a small, tadpole-shaped organ that is located behind the stomach and below the ribcage. It has two important functions:
- it produces digestive juices that are used by the intestines to help digest food
- it produces powerful ‘messenger chemicals’ called hormones
Insulin, which regulates the levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood, is the most important hormone that the pancreas produces.
The most common symptoms of acute pancreatitis are:
- the sudden onset of a severe pain in the centre of your abdomen
- nausea (feeling sick)
- vomiting (being sick)
See Acute pancreatitis - symptoms for more information.
In England, the two most common causes of acute pancreatitis are:
- gallstones - which accounts for around a half of all cases
- alcohol consumption - which accounts for about a quarter of all cases
See Acute pancreatitis - causes for more information.
Chronic pancreatitis is where the inflammation of the pancreas persists for many years. See the Health A-Z topic about Chronic pancreatitis for information relating to this form of pancreatitis.
Types of acute pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis can either be:
- mild - which accounts for four out of five cases
- severe - which accounts for the remaining one in five cases
The two types are briefly described below.
Mild acute pancreatitis
In cases of mild acute pancreatitis, the inflamed pancreas usually improves within three to five days. The term ‘mild’ is often used to distinguish this form of the condition from severe acute pancreatitis. However, it is a slightly misleading term because mild acute pancreatitis will still make you feel very ill.
The term 'mild' is used to describe cases where a person recovers without any complications.
Severe acute pancreatitis
In cases of severe acute pancreatitis, the inside of the pancreas is severely inflamed. This can trigger two life-threatening complications:
- inflammation spreads throughout the body, which can sometimes cause multiple organ failure
- the tissues of the pancreas begin to die and become infected and can cause a life-threatening infection to spread throughout your body, which, again, can lead to multiple organ failure
It is not clear why some people develop mild acute pancreatitis while others develop severe acute pancreatitis.
Treating acute pancreatitis
There is currently no cure for acute pancreatitis. This means that treatment is based on supporting the functions of the body until the inflammation has passed.
Both types of acute pancreatitis will require admission to hospital. Mild acute pancreatitis can be treated in a general hospital ward. Severe acute pancreatitis will require admission to a high dependency unit or an intensive care unit (ICU). See Acute pancreatitis – treatment for more information.
If the tissues of the pancreas begin to die, surgery may be needed to remove the dead tissue. Antibiotics can also be used to treat any infection that is related to acute pancreatitis.
See Acute pancreatitis - complications for more information.
How common is acute pancreatitis?
Acute pancreatitis is an uncommon condition. In England, it is estimated that around 1 in every 2,500 people will develop acute pancreatitis in any given year.
However, despite being uncommon, acute pancreatitis is responsible for around 25,000 hospital admissions and 950 deaths each year in England. It is estimated that most hospitals will treat one or two people with acute pancreatitis every week.
Rates of acute pancreatitis have risen sharply in England over the past 40 years. This is thought to be because of a rise in rates of alcohol use and obesity, which is a risk factor for gallstones.
Who is affected by acute pancreatitis?
Men are more likely to develop acute pancreatitis that is related to alcohol use while women are more likely to develop acute pancreatitis that is related to gallstones.
Alcohol-related acute pancreatitis is most widespread in middle-aged people, with the average age at diagnosis being 39 years of age.
Gallstones-related acute pancreatitis is most widespread in people of retirement age, with the average age at diagnosis being 69 years of age.
However, acute pancreatitis can affect people of all ages including children.
Outlook
The outlook for mild acute pancreatitis is good and most people are well enough to leave the hospital after 5 to 14 days.
However, mild acute pancreatitis that is associated with alcohol use should be taken as a serious warning sign that your current levels of drinking are placing your health at risk and you should stop drinking.
All patients who have had pancreatitis should avoid drinking alcohol for at least six months, whatever the cause of the pancreatitis.
See Acute pancreatitis - prevention for more information and advice.
The outlook for severe acute pancreatitis is much less favourable. If complications, such as multiple organ failure, develop, the risk of death can be as high as 1 in 3. If a person survives the effects of severe acute pancreatitis, it is likely to be several weeks or possibly months before they are well enough to leave hospital.
