Acute Pancreatitis:
What Is Acute Pancreatitis?
Acute pancreatitis is a sudden inflammation of the pancreas. It is a potentially life-threatening condition that can cause severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and fever. It can also lead to complications such as organ failure and infection.
What Causes Acute Pancreatitis?
The most common cause of acute pancreatitis is gallstones, which can block the flow of enzymes from the pancreas and cause inflammation. Other potential causes include excessive alcohol use, certain medications, infections, trauma, high levels of calcium in the blood, and certain metabolic disorders.
Is Acute Pancreatitis Temporary?
Acute pancreatitis is usually a short-term condition and can resolve with treatment. The severity of the disease, as well as the underlying cause, will determine the length of treatment and recovery time. In some cases, acute pancreatitis can become chronic, meaning that it is recurrent and persistent.