Common symptoms
- Severe upper abdominal pain spreading to the back
- Nausea and vomiting
- Recurrent attacks of pain
- Oily, foul-smelling stools and weight loss (chronic)
- New-onset diabetes (chronic)
See a doctor promptly if
- Severe abdominal pain — go to an emergency department
- Breathlessness or low urine output
- Fever with abdominal pain
- Jaundice
Acute pancreatitis
A sudden inflammation of the pancreas, most often due to gallstones or alcohol. Most attacks are mild and settle with hospital care, but severe pancreatitis needs specialist and sometimes intensive care. Dr. Kalia has published a randomised trial on preventing infected pancreatic necrosis in severe acute pancreatitis.
Chronic pancreatitis
Repeated injury leads to permanent damage, causing pain, poor digestion of fat and diabetes. Treatment includes pain control, pancreatic enzyme supplements, nutrition, managing diabetes, and endoscopic treatment of stones or strictures.
Role of advanced endoscopy
EUS helps evaluate cysts and chronic pancreatitis and drain fluid collections; ERCP removes stones blocking the bile or pancreatic duct.
How we can help
Frequently asked questions
Medically reviewed by Dr. Shivam Kalia MBBS, MD (Medicine), DM (Gastroenterology) · Consultant Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist