Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is a condition that can cause severe belly pain. The pancreas is an organ that makes hormones and juices that help break down food. The pancreas is a very sensitive organ that gets swollen and painful to even minor insults. Most people recover without any problems but a few may have lasting effects (chronic pancreatitis).

Common causes of pancreatitis include:

We diagnose pancreatitis on blood tests (lipase or amylase) and on imaging such as a CT scan. Most patients with pancreatitis require treatment in hospital. The cause of the pancreatitis could be further investigated once out of hospital.