The chief causes of acute pancreatitis in adults are gallstones, other gallbladder (biliary) disease, and alcohol use. Other causes include: - Viral infection (mumps, coxsackie B, mycoplasma pneumonia, and campylobacter)
- Traumatic injury
- Pancreatic surgical procedures
- Common bile duct surgical procedures
- Certain medications (especially estrogens, corticosteroids, thiazide diuretics, and azathioprine)
Acute pancreatitis may also be caused by an abnormal structure of the pancreas, genetic factors (hereditary pancreatitis), high lipid levels in the blood (hypertriglyceridemia), and complications of cystic fibrosis. The mechanism that causes pancreatitis is not well known. It is thought that enzymes normally secreted by the pancreas in an inactive form become activated inside the pancreas and start to digest the pancreatic tissue. This process is called autodigestion and causes swelling, hemorrhage, and damage to the blood vessels. The disease affects men more often than women. Alcohol abuse is an important risk factor. In children, this disorder may be associated with:
| 
