Pancreatitis

The main symptom of sudden (acute) pancreatitis is sudden moderate to severe Reference pain Opens New Window in the Reference upper area Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window of the belly (abdomen). Sometimes the pain is mild. But the pain may feel as though it bores through the abdomen to the back. Sitting up or leaning forward sometimes makes the pain less. Other symptoms of an attack of pancreatitis are:

• Nausea and vomiting.
• Fever.
• Fast heart rate.
• Sweating.
• Yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes (Reference jaundice Opens New Window).
• Reference Shock Opens New Window.

Long-term (chronic) pancreatitis also causes severe pain in the upper abdomen.

Other conditions that have similar symptoms include Reference bowel obstruction Opens New Window, Reference appendicitis Opens New Window, Reference cholecystitis Opens New Window, Reference peptic ulcer disease Opens New Window, and Reference diverticulitis Opens New Window.

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