How common is acute pancreatitis?

Honor Society of Nursing (STTI)

Acute pancreatitis results in the hospitalization of approximately 210,000 individuals each year in the United States. It is common in people who abuse alcohol and who have gallstones. Acute pancreatitis is rare in children.

Continue Learning about Pancreatitis

Honor Society of Nursing (STTI)

Mild cases of acute pancreatitis may resolve on its own without treatment after a few days of discom...

Sigma Nursing

Life expectancy with chronic pancreatitis may be lower than for people without the condition; resear...

Sigma Nursing

Pancreatitis can be serious and often requires hospitalization, sometimes even surgery. Acute and ch...

Honor Society of Nursing (STTI)

Alcohol can affect the pancreas by causing small passageways in the pancreas to become clogged, lead...

Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.

Pancreatitis

A disease of the endocrine system, pancreatitis can cause severe abdominal pain, fever and nausea and vomiting. Pancreatitis develops when the digestive juices that your pancreas makes actually begins to break down the organ itself. This disease, which can either be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term), can cause internal bleeding, infection, tissue scarring and organ failure. Chronic pancreatitis actually causes the pancreas to slowly destroy itself. Gallstones that block the pancreatic duct, a tube that connects the pancreas to part of the small intestine, can cause acute pancreatitis. However, heavy alcohol use is a primary cause of both acute and chronic pancreatitis. Several days in the hospital can help resolve acute pancreatitis, but chronic pancreatitis can be much more difficult to treat, especially if the patient is an alcoholic. The surgical removal of certain nerves may be needed to relieve the severe abdominal pain associated with chronic pancreatitis.

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