Acute pancreatitis is not uncommon. It has an annual global incidence rate of 4.9–73.4 cases per 100,000 people, with Australia sitting at the higher end of the spectrum. For some, it has the potential of being life-threatening and, to date, there is still no specific treatment.
There were 236 255 admissions for a principal diagnosis of acute or chronic pancreatitis between 2006/07 and 2018/19, corresponding to an average admission rate of 48.48/105/year. The majority (88.4%, n = 208 390) of these were for AP, equating to an average admission rate of 46.03/105/year.
The 2 most common causes of pancreatitis are gallstones and heavy alcohol consumption. Around 1 in every 2 people with acute pancreatitis have been heavy drinkers.
In the United States (U.S.), the annual incidence of acute pancreatitis (AP) is estimated to be approximately 40/100,000 persons, resulting in over 130,000 new cases per year. Chronic pancreatitis (CP) occurs less frequently, reported at about 8/100,000 persons.
Each year, about 275,000 hospital stays for acute pancreatitis occur in the United States. Although pancreatitis is rare in children, the number of children with acute pancreatitis has grown. Chronic pancreatitis is less common, with about 86,000 hospital stays per year.
Most people with acute pancreatitis improve within a week and experience no further problems, but severe cases can have serious complications and can even be fatal.
The average age at diagnosis is 35 to 55 years. Chronic alcohol use accounts for 70 percent of the cases of chronic pancreatitis in adults, and most patients have consumed more than 150 g of alcohol per day over six to 12 years.
The most common cause of acute pancreatitis is having gallstones. Gallstones cause inflammation of your pancreas as stones pass through and get stuck in a bile or pancreatic duct.
Chronic pancreatitis can have serious and long-lasting effects. But with lifestyle changes and effective treatments, patients with this condition can reduce their pain and live a more normal life.
Pancreatitis is inflammation in your pancreas. It's usually temporary (acute) but can also be a life-long (chronic) condition. The most common symptom is abdominal pain. The most common causes are alcohol use and gallstones.
The most common cause of chronic pancreatitis is ethanol abuse. Smoking is also an important risk factor.
Key points about pancreatitis
The most common causes are alcohol abuse and lumps of solid material (gallstones) in the gallbladder. The goal for treatment is to rest the pancreas and let it heal. You will likely be in the hospital for a few days.
Research shows that heavy alcohol users (people who consume four to five drinks a day) are at increased risk of pancreatitis. Cigarette smoking. Smokers are on average three times more likely to develop chronic pancreatitis, compared with nonsmokers.
Severe abdominal pain. Nausea and vomiting. Dizziness or lightheadedness. Yellowing of skin or eyes, which could be a sign of jaundice.
The most common symptoms of acute pancreatitis include: suddenly getting severe pain in the centre of your tummy (abdomen) feeling or being sick. a high temperature of 38C or more (fever)
Mild acute pancreatitis has a very low mortality rate (less than 1 percent),1,2 whereas the death rate for severe acute pancreatitis can be 10 to 30 percent depending on the presence of sterile versus infected necrosis.
In the chronic form of this condition, episodes of pancreatitis tends to become more severe over time. The overall 10-year and 20-year survival rates are estimated to be about 70% and 45%, respectively. For some people, a diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis can mean a lifetime of pain and gastrointestinal symptoms.
Emotional stress can excite the vagus nerve (connects the brain with the stomach) and causes the stomach to be stimulated to produce excessive amounts of acid. As noted, this increase in acid stimulates an increase in pancreatic secretion production. This can exacerbate pancreatitis once it has been established.
Drink clear liquids and eat bland foods until you feel better. Bland foods include rice, dry toast, and crackers. They also include bananas and applesauce. Eat a low-fat diet until your doctor says your pancreas is healed.
The main symptom of pancreatitis is pain felt in the upper left side or middle of the abdomen. The pain: May be worse within minutes after eating or drinking at first, more commonly if foods have a high fat content. Becomes constant and more severe, lasting for several days.
The risk is particularly high in people with hereditary pancreatitis who also smoke, use alcohol, have type 1 diabetes mellitus, or have a family history of cancer. In affected individuals who develop pancreatic cancer, it is typically diagnosed in mid-adulthood.
Early symptoms of chronic pancreatitis are similar to acute pancreatitis. Symptoms are occasional and include: Pain in the upper belly that spreads into the back. Pain in the belly that gets worse when you eat or drink alcohol.
There is no cure for chronic pancreatitis, but the related pain and symptoms may be managed or even prevented. Since chronic pancreatitis is most often caused by drinking, abstinence from alcohol is often one way to ease the pain.
Mild acute pancreatitis usually goes away in a few days with rest and treatment. If your pancreatitis is more severe, your treatment may also include: Surgery. Your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the gallbladder, called cholecystectomy, if gallstones cause your pancreatitis.