Acute Pancreatitis

Definition

Acute pancreatitis is swelling (inflammation) of the pancreas. The pancreas is a gland located behind the stomach. It releases the hormones insulin and glucagon as well as substances that help you digest food.

Symptoms

The main symptoms is abdominal pain felt in the upper left side or middle of the belly area (abdomen).

The pain:

• Is persistent or chronic
• May be worse lying flat on the back
• May spread (radiate) to the back or below the left shoulder blade
• May be worse after eating or drinking (occurs within minutes following meals), especially foods with a high fat content
• May be worse after drinking alcohol

Other common symptoms may include:

• Anxiety
• Fever
• Mild yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Sweating

Other symptoms that may occur with this disease include:

• Indigestion
• Clay-colored stools
• Gaseous abdominal fullness
• Hiccups
• Skin rash or lesion
• Swollen abdomen

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