What should I do if pancreatitis keeps recurring?

Written by Wu Hai Wu

Gastroenterology

Updated on May 29, 2025

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After recovering from acute pancreatitis, the recurrence rate varies depending on the cause of the disease. Especially in cases of biliary pancreatitis, if gallstones or bile duct stones are not removed in time, the probability of recurrence of acute pancreatitis is still very high. Therefore, for patients with acute pancreatitis, we must emphasize treating the cause of the condition. For example, surgical removal of the gallbladder or extraction of stones from the bile duct. At the same time, patients should avoid overeating and drinking alcohol, and consume more fresh vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins. Their diet should also be light.

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Written by Chen Rong

Gastroenterology

1min 25sec

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How to check for pancreatitis?

The examination of pancreatitis requires laboratory tests and imaging examinations to assess the severity of the condition and to identify the cause. Elevated amylase and lipase levels more than three times the normal values, increased white blood cells, elevated C-reactive protein, increased blood sugar, elevated transaminases and bilirubin, decreased albumin, increased urea nitrogen and creatinine, decreased blood oxygen partial pressure, decreased blood calcium, elevated triglycerides, and abnormalities in blood sodium, potassium, and pH values all reflect the severity of pancreatitis. Abdominal ultrasound is a routine initial screening imaging examination for acute pancreatitis, and abdominal CT is helpful in confirming the presence of pancreatitis, peripancreatic inflammatory changes, and pleural effusion. Enhanced CT is beneficial in determining the extent of pancreatic necrosis and is generally performed about a week after the onset of the condition. However, when searching for the cause of pancreatitis, the sensitivity and accuracy of CT are not as good as MRI, therefore further MRI should be conducted to investigate causes related to the bile duct and to determine the cause of the pancreatitis.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu

Gastroenterology

53sec

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Can I drink tea with pancreatitis?

Patients with pancreatitis are advised not to drink tea. If the symptoms are severe, they might experience intense abdominal pain, stomach coldness, fever, and cessation of gas and bowel movements. Under these conditions, patients should not drink water or eat anything, and certainly should not drink tea. The causes of pancreatitis could be biliary stone-related inflammation, excessive drinking or eating, or due to alcohol consumption. A minority of cases might be due to anatomical abnormalities of the pancreas or autoimmune diseases. Therefore, once pancreatitis occurs, it is necessary to identify the cause and take appropriate treatment measures. This includes actively suppressing the secretion of pancreatic enzymes and stomach acid, aggressively rehydrating, and, if necessary, undergoing surgical treatment.

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Written by Huang Ya Juan

Gastroenterology

1min 51sec

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Symptoms of Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is divided into acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis is a condition caused by various reasons that lead to damage in the pancreatic tissue. This results in the premature activation of enzymes meant for digesting food, which instead begin to digest the pancreas itself. This “self-destructive” behavior leads to a series of consequences known as acute pancreatitis. The symptoms of acute pancreatitis primarily include abdominal pain, predominantly upper abdominal pain, which occurs suddenly and is persistent, severe, or knife-like, with intermittent exacerbation; fever, nausea, vomiting frequently, with vomitus consisting of food, bile, and even blood, and the abdominal pain does not ease after vomiting; some patients may also have jaundice, often caused by gallstones or common bile duct stones inducing pancreatitis, possibly accompanied by itching of the skin. Chronic pancreatitis, on the other hand, is not necessarily caused by repeated attacks of acute pancreatitis, but rather by various causes leading to persistent inflammatory changes in the pancreas, characterized mainly by chronic and persistent inflammation, damage, and fibrosis of the pancreatic parenchyma. This can lead to irreversible morphological changes such as dilation of the pancreatic ducts, pancreatic duct stones, or calcification. Symptoms include abdominal pain, primarily upper abdominal pain, which may radiate to the back, often triggered by alcohol consumption, overeating, a high-fat diet, or fatigue; gastrointestinal symptoms include reduced appetite, bloating, and indigestion; exocrine manifestations include diarrhea, specifically steatorrhea, where the stool contains oil droplets and often has a foul odor; there may also be weight loss, emaciation, and endocrine manifestations, such as what we commonly refer to as diabetes.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu

Gastroenterology

40sec

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How to take care of acute pancreatitis

Patients with pancreatitis should pay attention to their diet during the recovery period. The basic dietary principle for pancreatitis patients is to consume small amounts of easily digestible foods, with low protein and fat content, primarily carbohydrates. During acute episodes, it's crucial to strictly control the intake of fatty foods. Once the condition has improved, patients may gradually consume protein-rich, high-vitamin, high-carbohydrate foods, along with non-irritating, easily digestible foods. Patients should avoid consuming large amounts of meat and alcohol, and can eat rice soup, lotus root starch, noodles, etc.

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Written by Yang Chun Guang

Gastroenterology

46sec

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What department should I go to for pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis is a disease where the digestive enzymes in the pancreas are activated internally, causing the pancreas to digest itself. Clinically, it presents with upper abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. If severe, the abdominal pain can be intense. In such cases, one should register with the department of gastroenterology, as the pancreas is also an organ of the digestive system. If the hospital does not have a gastroenterology department, one could consider registering with the department of internal medicine. If the pancreatitis is severe and requires surgical or other treatments after examination by the gastroenterology department, further referral to another specialty for treatment may be necessary.