Normally, the gland functions without much notice. But when something goes wrong, the gland can send out debilitating pain to its human carrier that lasts for days. You may be able to endure it, and it will go away on its own. But if pain becomes a chronic problem, you may develop some life-threatening issues. Those who develop acute cases are definitely exhibiting illness, and most require up to five days of hospitalization and monitoring. The treatments include intravenous fluids and pain control.
At its most basic, pancreatitis describes inflammation of the pancreas. It is mainly caused by stones in the gallbladder area. The gallstones enter the small intestine through a common duct bile connecting the gallbladder to the small intestine. But the stones may get lodged in the duct, blocking the flow of pancreatic juices and damaging the pancreas. There may also be a backflow of bile from the duct, causing the pancreas to react.
The Cleveland Clinic estimates that 32 to 44 new cases of acute pancreatitis per 100,000 people appear each year, a number that has increased worldwide over the past 10 years. It is the number-one cause of hospitalizations for gastrointestinal issues, with 274,000 recorded since 2012.
Of those cases, about 20 percent are considered severe, and about 5 percent of sufferers die from the condition. Between 16.5 percent and 25 percent of patients who have one episode of acute pancreatitis have a relapse within several years. It is estimated that the public cost of the overall admission is more than $2 billion.