What is pancreas?
Pancreas is an organ situated in the abdomen. The functions of the same include secretion of various enzymes. These enzymes are required for digestion, especially for fat digestion. Pancreas also secrets various enzymes including insulin, glucagon. Insulin deficiency causes diabetes.

What is Pancreatitis?
Inflammation of the pancreas is called Pancreatitis.

What are the types of pancreatitis ?
Pancreatitis could be acute or chronic. Acute pancreatitis can be life threatening.

What causes pancreatitis ?
Two most common causes of pancreatitis are gall stones & alcohol. It could also result from abdominal injury, after surgery involving the gall stones & with viral diseases.

What are the symptoms of pancreatitis?
The main symptom is severe pain in the abdomen mainly in the upper portion. Associated nausea , vomiting does exist. There could also be bluish black discoloration of the flanks.

How is Pancreatitis diagnosed ?
Along with the clinical presentation of the patient, blood amylase levels are helpful for diagnsis. Amylase is an enzyme produced in the pancreas. When the pancreas is damaged as in pancreatitis, the enzyme leaks into the general circulation. Thus acute pancreatitis is associated with very high levels of amylase in the blood. A CT scan of the abdomen shows the exact damage to the pancreas & further helps the diagnosis.

Why does alcohol cause pancreatitis ?
Alcohol seems to change the amount & content of the pancretic juices. This altered juice tends to cause plugs in the ducts draining them. Thus the obstructed ducts with pent up secretions ultimately lead to pancreatitis.