Pancreatitis

When To Call a Doctor

Call your doctor immediately if you have severe belly (abdominal) pain with vomiting that does not go away after a few hours, or mild to moderate pain that does not improve with home treatment after a couple of days. These symptoms may be caused by pancreatitis.

Watchful Waiting

Pancreatitis can be a severe, potentially life-threatening illness. It is not appropriate to take a wait-and-see approach, which is called watchful waiting, if you have severe pain in the upper areaClick here to see an illustration. of the abdomen that does not go away in a few hours.

Who To See

Your family doctor or general practitioner can diagnose and treat pancreatitis. You may be referred to a specialist, such as a gastroenterologist.

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment


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Author: Monica RhodesLast Updated: August 16, 2007
Medical Review: Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
Brent Shoji, MD - General Surgery

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Topic Contents
 Topic Overview
 Cause
 Symptoms
 What Happens
 What Increases Your Risk
Arrow PointerWhen To Call a Doctor
 Examinations and Tests
 Treatment Overview
 Prevention
 Home Treatment
 Medications
 Surgery
 Other Treatment
 Other Places To Get Help
 Related Information
 References
 Credits