Definition of Acute pancreatitis:

Acute pancreatitis is swelling (inflammation) of the pancreas. The pancreas is a gland located behind the stomach. It releases digestive enzymes and the hormones insulin and glucagon.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The main causes of acute pancreatitis in adults are:

• Alcohol use
• Gallbladder (biliary) disease
• Gallstones

Other causes include:

• Certain medications (especially estrogens, corticosteroids, thiazide diuretics, and azathioprine)
• Common bile duct surgical procedures
• Surgery to the pancreas
• Traumatic injury
• Viral infection (mumps, coxsackie B, mycoplasma pneumonia, and campylobacter)

Acute pancreatitis may also be caused by:

• An abnormal structure of the pancreas
• Complications of cystic fibrosis
• Genetic factors (hereditary pancreatitis)
• High lipid levels in the blood (hypertriglyceridemia)

What exactly causes pancreatitis is not well known. It is thought that enzymes the pancreas normally releases in an inactive form become activated inside the pancreas and start to digest the pancreatic tissue. This process is called autodigestion. It causes swelling, bleeding (hemorrhage), and damage to the blood vessels.

The disease affects men more often than women. Alcohol abuse is an important risk factor.

In children, this disorder may be associated with:

• Abdominal trauma
• Cystic fibrosis
• Hemolytic uremic syndrome
• Kawasaki disease
• Mumps
• Reye syndrome
• Some medications
• Various viral illnesses