Can pancreatitis be contagious?

Written by Wu Hai Wu

Gastroenterology

Updated on February 05, 2025

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Pancreatitis is not contagious; it is a serious digestive system disease. The main causes of pancreatitis include gallstones, binge eating, alcohol abuse, and consumption of greasy foods among other factors. Once an attack of pancreatitis occurs, the patient must immediately refrain from eating and drinking, undergo gastrointestinal decompression, and have gastric juices, acids, and stomach contents suctioned out. Meanwhile, treatments for pancreatitis may involve the use of somatostatin or octreotide to inhibit the secretion of pancreatic juice, as well as the use of third-generation cephalosporins or quinolone antibiotics for anti-infection treatment. (Please use medications under the guidance of a physician.)

Other Voices

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Written by Wei Shi Liang

Intensive Care Unit

1min 22sec

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Rescue of severe pancreatitis

Severe pancreatitis involves severe illness impacting multiple systems and organs across the body. The rescue of severe pancreatitis should be based in the ICU, with multidisciplinary cooperation. The first step is early fluid resuscitation, with crystalloid solution preferred, and it should be rapidly completed within 48 hours of onset. The second step involves support for circulation and respiration. The third step involves the maintenance of organ functions and the use of blood purification treatments. Early use of blood purification in acute pancreatitis can remove inflammatory mediators, regulate immune dysfunctions, and protect organ functions, potentially extending the survival time of patients with severe pancreatitis. The fourth step includes monitoring intra-abdominal pressure and preventing and treating abdominal compartment syndrome. Further treatments mainly include the use of agents to inhibit pancreatic enzymes and platelet activation, as well as early jejunal nutrition. Additionally, prophylactic use of antibiotics is required, and in cases of biliary acute pancreatitis, ERCP or sphincterotomy should be performed. The final approach is surgical treatment, which is reserved for patients who do not respond to or have poor results from conservative treatment.

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Written by Wang Li Bing

Intensive Care Medicine Department

56sec

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Principles of Treatment for Severe Pancreatitis

The treatment principles for severe pancreatitis mainly include the following points: First, closely monitor the patient's heartbeat, respiration, blood pressure, blood oxygen, etc., and if possible, transfer them to the intensive care unit. Second, maintain electrolyte balance and blood volume, and actively rehydrate. Third, enhance nutritional support, which can include parenteral nutrition outside of gastrointestinal digestion. Fourth, routinely use antibiotics in severe pancreatitis to prevent infection from necrotizing pancreatitis. Fifth, reduce the secretion of pancreatic fluid, inhibit the synthesis of pancreatic enzymes, and suppress the activity of pancreatic enzymes. If the patient develops an infection associated with pancreatic necrosis, consider surgical treatment, etc.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua

Gastroenterology

1min 7sec

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Pancreatitis is what?

Pancreatitis is a relatively common disease in gastroenterology, generally believed to be caused by various factors leading to the activation and autodigestion of the pancreas itself, resulting in inflammatory changes in the pancreas. Common causes include bile duct stones, alcohol consumption, and overeating, among others. Clinically, it is most commonly presented with symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and vomiting. Fever may also accompany these symptoms. The diagnostic criteria for pancreatitis generally include three standards: The first is typical upper abdominal pain, persistent upper abdominal pain; the second is a blood test showing blood amylase levels more than three times the normal value; the third involves typical abdominal imaging, such as ultrasound, CT, or MRI, indicating imaging changes like pancreatic effusion. If two out of these three criteria are met, pancreatitis can generally be diagnosed.

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Written by Wei Shi Liang

Intensive Care Unit

39sec

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Two major signs of severe pancreatitis

In patients with severe pancreatitis, physical examination may reveal abdominal distension with tympanic percussion sounds, prominent tenderness in the upper middle abdomen, and potentially widespread abdominal pain centered in the upper middle area. Some may exhibit rebound tenderness, moderate muscle tension is common, and a few cases may demonstrate shifting dullness. Occasionally, a mass in the upper middle abdomen can be palpated, possibly due to fluid in the lesser sac. Auscultation may reveal diminished or absent bowel sounds, accompanied by cessation of passing gas or stool, indicating features of paralytic ileus.

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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.