Which symptom is least likely to be associated with chronic pancreatitis?

Chronic pancreatitis typically presents with symptoms that are related to the ongoing inflammation and damage to the pancreas. Steatorrhea is a common symptom due to the malabsorption of fats that occurs when the pancreas fails to produce enough digestive enzymes. Constant abdominal pain is also associated with chronic pancreatitis; patients often experience persistent discomfort as a result of the chronic inflammatory process affecting the pancreas.

Weight loss can occur as a result of malabsorption and decreased appetite, which are common in chronic pancreatitis. Over time, the loss of pancreatic function contributes to nutritional deficiencies, leading to weight loss.

In contrast, the sudden onset of severe pain is more characteristic of acute pancreatitis. In acute pancreatitis, the inflammation occurs rapidly and is often accompanied by severe abdominal pain that comes on abruptly. Chronic pancreatitis is generally marked by episodes of pain but is not typically associated with sudden severe pain as a primary symptom. Therefore, the symptom least likely to be associated with chronic pancreatitis is the sudden onset of severe pain.