Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas, an organ located behind your stomach that plays an important role in helping digest food and in blood sugar regulation. There are primarily two forms of pancreatitis: acute and chronic.
Acute pancreatitis happens suddenly when your pancreas becomes inflamed. This inflammation can be due to a range of possible causes but is commonly related to gallstones or excessive alcohol use. Symptoms of acute pancreatitis include severe pain in the upper abdomen that may radiate to the back, nausea, vomiting, abdominal tenderness and fever. The treatment of acute pancreatitis depends on the cause. Most cases of acute pancreatitis may resolve on its own.
Chronic pancreatitis is a long-term disease where ongoing inflammation in your pancreas can progressively get worse and cause damage to pancreatic tissue. Symptoms of chronic pancreatitis include persistent abdominal pain, weight loss without trying, oily foul-smelling stools, nausea, vomiting and diabetes. Treatment plans focus on managing your symptoms and preventing further damage.