Pancreatitis
Also known as: Acute pancreatitis, unspecified · Chronic Pancreatitis · Necrotizing Pancreatitis
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In short
Acute pancreatitis is a sudden inflammation of the pancreas, which is a large gland behind the stomach that secretes digestive juices and releases hormones. This inflammation occurs when digestive enzymes start digesting the pancreas itself, and it is often caused by gallstones. Common symptoms of this condition are severe pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, and vomiting. Treatment is usually a few days in the hospital for intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and medicines to relieve pain.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
AI-generated summary of the sources cited on this page, checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a clinician; not medical advice.
Codes
Description
The pancreas is a large gland behind the stomach and close to the first part of the small intestine. It secretes digestive juices into the small intestine through a tube called the pancreatic duct. The pancreas also releases the hormones insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream.
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. It happens when digestive enzymes start digesting the pancreas itself. Pancreatitis can be acute or chronic. Either form is serious and can lead to complications.
Acute pancreatitis occurs suddenly and usually goes away in a few days with treatment. It is often caused by gallstones. Common symptoms are severe pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, and vomiting. Treatment is usually a few days in the hospital for intravenous (IV) fluids, antibiotics, and medicines to relieve pain.
Chronic pancreatitis does not heal or improve. It gets worse over time and leads to permanent damage. The most common cause is heavy alcohol use. Other causes include cystic fibrosis and other inherited disorders, high levels of calcium or fats in the blood, some medicines, and autoimmune conditions. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and oily stools. Treatment may also be a few days in the hospital for intravenous (IV) fluids, medicines to relieve pain, and nutritional support. After that, you may need to start taking enzymes and eat a special diet. It is also important to not smoke or drink alcohol.
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Next to it in ICD-10
- K81Inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis)
- K82Other gallbladder diseases
- K83Other bile duct diseases
- K86Other pancreatic diseases (including chronic pancreatitis)
- K87Gallbladder, bile duct and pancreas disorders in other diseases
- K90Intestinal malabsorption (including coeliac disease)
Neighbouring codes in the classification, not a medical link.
External resources
Questions
What is the ICD-10 code for Pancreatitis?
K85 (WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision).
What is the ICD-11 code for Pancreatitis?
DC31.Z: Acute pancreatitis, unspecified (WHO, ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics).
Sources and attribution
- ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics, © World Health Organization, licensed under CC BY-ND 3.0 IGO.
- Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- Names other than the official source titles: Anpheros translations and plain-language names, made with AI assistance and checked automatically; the source names are in English.
- ICD-10 codes and titles © World Health Organization. Source: WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (2019).
Anpheros Search catalog 2026.10.5, published 17 October 2026. About the data →
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