Acute Pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas causing abdominal pain, which may go through to the back and be very severe, associated with vomiting. The mechanism is thought to be due to the action of some of the digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas digesting itself. It is uncommon in childhood but occurs in adolescence. In many cases the reason it happens is unclear, but it maybe precipitated by infections such as mumps, or trauma. While most cases resolve (though the illness can be unpleasant) some cases may be severe and complicated by blood clotting disorders, respiratory difficulty and shock. Rarely attacks can be recurrent, and result in chronic pancreatitis.
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