In pancreatitis, the digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas gets activated inside the pancreas and causes irritation to the cells present inside the pancreas, which in turn causes inflammation to the duct. The repeated episodes of acute pancriatits can cause chronic pancreatitis. The factors that trigger pancreatitis are formation of gallstones, excessive alcoholism, cigarette smoking, allergy against certain medications, abdominal surgery, cystic fibrosis, hypercalcemia, hyperparathyroidism, hypertriglyceridemia, injury to abdomen, pancreatic cancer, Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) used for the treatment of gallstones, and any family history of pancreatitis.

Pancreatitis symptoms vary, depending on the type. The symptoms of acute pancreatitis includes abdominal pain that travels to your back and becomes worse after having a meal, nausea, vomiting and tenderness on touching the abdomen. The symptoms of chronic pancreatitis includes upper abdominal pain, loss in body weight, steatorrhea (oily and smelly stools) and indigestion.

Pancreatic treatment generally requires hospitalization and when your condition becomes stable and the inflammation is under control, then the doctor will treat the underlying causes related to the disease. The initial treatment which includes the control of inflammation includes:

Fasting – you need to fast for two days, so that pancreas gets a chance to recover, when the inflammation is controlled, then you will be given liquids and bland foods in your diet. If you are experiencing pain while eating, then your doctor will provide you a feeding tube, which will help you getting the required nutrition to your body.

Medication for pain – pancreatitis will cause unbearable pain, so your physician will give you medication, which will decrease the pain.

Intravenous fluids – the body requires energy and fluids to carry out other metabolic activities, this is provided by the extra fluids through the vein in your arm.

After the inflammation of the duct is recovered, then you will be discharged from the hospital. Now the doctor will treat you for the cause of your pancreatitis, and these treatments may include treatment for alcohol addiction, gallbladder surgery, pancreas surgery and procedure to remove the bile duct obstruction. Both Acute and chronic pancriatitis can be treated by the above mentioned procedures, but chronic pancriatitis sometimes requires additional treatment such as pain management, enzymes to improve digestion and change in your diet, as per the website Myoclinic.

You can rarely find chronic pancriatitis in children, but the children with cystic fibriosis are at greater risk of getting this disease. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases' Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition supports the clinical research on the causes of pancreatitis and studying the genetics of hereditary pancreatitis.