Acute Pancreatitis Quiz
Check your symptoms and
find possible causes with AI for free
Worried about your symptoms?
Start the Acute Pancreatitis test with our free AI Symptom Checker.
This will help us personalize your assessment.
By starting the symptom checker, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Low back pain worsens with drinking alcohol
Alcohol intake aggravates stomach pain
Stomachache
Upper left abdominal pain
Diarrhea
Localized abdominal pain
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Acute Pancreatitis?
Inflammation of the pancreas. Causes include alcohol, gallstones, and high triglyceride levels in the blood. Prompt medical treatment is essential as it can be life-threatening.
Typical Symptoms of Acute Pancreatitis
- Stomach or abdominal pain that worsens when drinking alcohol
- History of pancreatitis
- Stomach or abdominal pain in a specific area
- Nausea or vomiting after eating
- Stomach or abdominal pain with the abdomen becoming hard when gently pressed
- Pain in the upper left abdomen
- Stomach or abdominal pain that worsens after meals
- Black, shiny stool
Diagnostic Questions for Acute Pancreatitis
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Does your stomach or abdominal pain worsen when drinking alcohol?
- Have you ever had pancreatitis?
- Do you have stomach or abdominal pain in a specific area?
- Do you experience nausea or vomiting after eating?
- Do you have stomach or abdominal pain with your abdomen becoming hard when gently pressed?
Treatment of Acute Pancreatitis
This requires prompt medical care and hospitalization. In most cases, the treatment is supportive with IV "drip" fluids, pain medications, and oxygen. Treatment of the cause may also be needed, such as a procedure to remove gallstones or therapy for excessive alcohol drinking.
Reviewed By:
Maxwell J. Nanes, DO (Emergency Medicine)
Dr Nanes received a doctorate from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and went on to complete a residency in emergency medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. There he trained at Froedtert Hospital and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in the practice of adult and pediatric emergency medicine. He was a chief resident and received numerous awards for teaching excellence during his time there. | | After residency he took a job at a community hospital where he and his colleagues worked through the toughest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. |
Aiko Yoshioka, MD (Gastroenterology)
Dr. Yoshioka graduated from the Niigata University School of Medicine. He worked as a gastroenterologist at Saiseikai Niigata Hospital and Niigata University Medical & Dental Hospital before serving as the Deputy Chief of Gastroenterology at Tsubame Rosai Hospital and Nagaoka Red Cross Hospital. Dr. Yoshioka joined Saitama Saiseikai Kawaguchi General Hospital as Chief of Gastroenterology in April 2018.
Content updated on Mar 31, 2024
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
Was this page helpful?
Tell your friends about us.
We would love to help them too.
Think you might have
Acute Pancreatitis?
Try a symptom check testHow Ubie Can Help You
With a free 3-min Acute Pancreatitis quiz, powered by Ubie's AI and doctors, find possible causes of your symptoms.
This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.
Your symptoms
Our AI
Your report
Your personal report will tell you
✔ When to see a doctor
✔︎ What causes your symptoms
✔︎ Treatment information etc.
Symptoms Related to Acute Pancreatitis
Diseases Related to Acute Pancreatitis
FAQs
Q.
What is pancreatitis?
A.
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas—an organ that makes digestive enzymes and insulin—caused when enzymes activate too early and begin digesting the pancreas itself, leading to pain, swelling, and sometimes life‑threatening complications. It can be acute (sudden, often resolves) or chronic (long‑term, irreversible damage with digestive problems and diabetes), commonly triggered by gallstones, alcohol, high triglycerides, or certain medications. There are several factors to consider, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and when to seek urgent care—see below for complete details that may affect your next steps.
References:
Banks PA, Bollen TL, Dervenis C, et al. (2013). Classification of acute pancreatitis–2012: revision of the Atlanta classification and definit… Gut, 23100216.
D'Amico G, Garcia-Tsao G, Pagliaro L. (2006). Natural history and prognostic indicators of survival in cirrhosis: a systematic review of 118 … J Hepatol, 16324864.
Tsochatzis EA, Bosch J, Burroughs AK. (2014). Liver cirrhosis… Lancet, 24613312.
Q.
Pancreatitis: when to worry
A.
Seek urgent care if you have severe, unrelenting upper-abdominal pain (often radiating to the back), persistent vomiting, fever over 101°F, rapid heartbeat, jaundice, shortness of breath, confusion, dizziness/low blood pressure, or decreased urine—these can signal serious complications or organ failure. Mild cases may improve with rest and fluids, but severe pancreatitis is life-threatening; there are several factors to consider, and the complete guidance below covers key warning signs, when home care is unsafe, how doctors gauge risk (BISAP), follow-up, and long-term risks that could affect your next steps.
References:
Wu BU, Johannes RS, Sun X, Tabak Y, Conwell DL, & Banks PA. (2008). A simple risk score to predict in-hospital mortality in acute… Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol, 18851868.
Banks PA, Bollen TL, Dervenis C, Gooszen HG, Johnson CD, Sarr MG, & Thoeni RF. (2013). Classification of acute pancreatitis—2012: revision of the… Gut, 22619251.
Kamath PS, & Wiesner RH. (2001). A model to predict survival in patients with end-stage liver diseas… Hepatology, 11157951.
Q.
What illnesses could cause pain above the belly button when pressed?
A.
Pain above the belly button when pressed can be caused by various illnesses and conditions. Understanding these potential causes is important for proper diagnosis and treatment.
References:
Munisamy R, Uppalu H, Raghavendra R, Venkata NP, Harshita S, Janarthanam SV. Type-I complex regional pain syndrome of umbilical port site: An unforeseen complication of laparoscopic surgery. J Minim Access Surg. 2012 Apr;8(2):50-3. doi: 10.4103/0972-9941.95535. PMID: 22623826; PMCID: PMC3353613.
Patterson JW, Kashyap S, Dominique E. Acute Abdomen. [Updated 2023 Jul 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459328/
Applegate WV. Abdominal Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome (ACNES): A Commonly Overlooked Cause of Abdominal Pain. Perm J. 2002 Summer;6(3):20–7. PMCID: PMC6220638.
Q.
What illnesses could cause upper stomach pain and nausea?
A.
Upper stomach pain accompanied by nausea can be caused by a variety of illnesses, including gastrointestinal disorders, infections, and other medical conditions. Common causes include gastritis, peptic ulcers, gallbladder disease, and pancreatitis. Understanding these potential causes is important for seeking appropriate medical evaluation and treatment.
References:
Murali N, El Hayek SM. Abdominal Pain Mimics. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2021 Nov;39(4):839-850. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2021.07.003. Epub 2021 Sep 10. PMID: 34600641; PMCID: PMC8430370.
Sherman R. Abdominal Pain. In: Walker HK, Hall WD, Hurst JW, editors. Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd edition. Boston: Butterworths; 1990. Chapter 86.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK412/
Govender I, Rangiah S, Bongongo T, Mahuma P. A Primary Care Approach to Abdominal Pain in Adults. S Afr Fam Pract (2004). 2021 Mar 10;63(1):e1-e5. doi: 10.4102/safp.v63i1.5280. PMID: 33764143; PMCID: PMC8378095.
Ubie is supervised by 50+ medical experts worldwide
Our symptom checker AI is continuously refined with input from experienced physicians, empowering them to make more accurate diagnoses.
Ubie is recognized by healthcare and tech leaders
“World’s Best Digital
Health Companies”
Newsweek 2024
“Best With AI”
Google Play Best of 2023
“Best in Class”
Digital Health Awards 2023 (Quarterfinalist)
Which is the best Symptom Checker?
Ubie’s symptom checker demonstrated a Top-10 hit accuracy of 71.6%, surpassing the performance of several leading symptom checkers in the market, which averaged around 60% accuracy in similar assessments.
Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Greenberg JA, Hsu J, Bawazeer M, Marshall J, Friedrich JO, Nathens A, Coburn N, May GR, Pearsall E, McLeod RS. Clinical practice guideline: management of acute pancreatitis. Can J Surg. 2016 Apr;59(2):128-40. doi: 10.1503/cjs.015015. PMID: 27007094; PMCID: PMC4814287.
https://www.canjsurg.ca/content/59/2/128Lankisch PG, Apte M, Banks PA. Acute pancreatitis. Lancet. 2015 Jul 4;386(9988):85-96. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60649-8. Epub 2015 Jan 21. Erratum in: Lancet. 2015 Nov 21;386(10008):2058. PMID: 25616312.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(14)60649-8/fulltextYang AL, McNabb-Baltar J. Hypertriglyceridemia and acute pancreatitis. Pancreatology. 2020 Jul;20(5):795-800. doi: 10.1016/j.pan.2020.06.005. Epub 2020 Jun 12. PMID: 32571534.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1424390320301988?via%3DihubJames TW, Crockett SD. Management of acute pancreatitis in the first 72 hours. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2018 Sep;34(5):330-335. doi: 10.1097/MOG.0000000000000456. PMID: 29957661; PMCID: PMC6245573.
https://journals.lww.com/co-gastroenterology/Abstract/2018/09000/Management_of_acute_pancreatitis_in_the_first_72.11.aspxWang GJ, Gao CF, Wei D, Wang C, Ding SQ. Acute pancreatitis: etiology and common pathogenesis. World J Gastroenterol. 2009 Mar 28;15(12):1427-30. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.1427. PMID: 19322914; PMCID: PMC2665136.
https://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/full/v15/i12/1427.htm