Summary

• Pancreatitis is inflammation of your pancreas that is usually mild, but if severe, can be life threatening.
• In acute (sudden onset) pancreatitis you may have sudden, severe, upper abdominal (tummy) pain spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting.
• In chronic (ongoing) pancreatitis you may have longstanding mid-abdominal pain.
• The two most common causes of pancreatitis are drinking too much alcohol and having gallstones.
• If you have acute pancreatitis, you’ll usually need treatment in hospital, while with chronic pancreatitis you can usually stay home for treatment.

These key facts are from healthdirect.gov.au (accessed 29 Jan 2025). Visit the healthdirect website for more information about pancreatitis.

Relevant Tests

If your doctor suspects you have pancreatitis, they may request one or more tests.

If you are diagnosed with pancreatitis, some of these tests will be used to monitor and manage your condition.

Find information about specific tests:

• Amylase
• Lipase
• Faecal elastase