Acute Pancreatitis Child
Overview
Definition
The pancreas is a long, flat organ located behind the stomach. It creates enzymes that help digest food as well as hormones, like insulin, that help control blood sugar.
Acute pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas that occurs suddenly.
The Pancreas |
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Risk Factors
Factors that may increase your child’s risk of acute pancreatitis include:
- Taking certain medications
- Specific viral infection
- Congenital abnormalities
- Hyperlipidemia —excess lipids (fats) in the blood
- Hypercalcemia —excess calcium in the blood
- Cystic fibrosis
- Gallstones
- Vasculitic diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus , Henoch-Schönlein purpura
SymptomsandDiagnosis
Treatments
Treatment
Pancreatitis may resolve on its own. Supportive care may be needed if your child has frequent vomiting and poor appetite. To replace fluids and provide nutrition, your child’s doctor may advise:
- IV fluids
- Total parenteral nutrition—nutrition given by IV
- A feeding tube
Your child may also be given supplemental oxygen.
If your child’s condition does not improve on its own or is severe, your child’s doctor will talk to you about a treatment plan. Options include:
Dietary Changes
Your child’s doctor may advise dietary change and plenty of fluids to promote healing of the pancreas.
Medications
Your child’s doctor may advise the following medication:
- Over-the-counter pain medication
- Prescription pain medication
- Antibiotics if an infection is present or possible
- Anti-nausea medication
Talk to your child’s doctor about the medications that your child takes. Certain medications may need to be stopped or changed if they are the cause of the acute pancreatitis.
Surgery
Surgery may be needed if your child has complications, such as bleeding, infection, or uncontrolled pain.
Another complication is the formation of cysts and pseudocysts. Cysts are fluid-filled sacs in or on the pancreas. A pseudocyst contains enzymes or semi-solid material that form in spaces inside the pancreas. Cysts and pseudocysts may cause pain, nausea, vomiting, or become infected. Treatment may include:
- Drainage with laparoscopic surgery, endoscopy (inserting a tube down the throat and into the small intestine and pancreas) or by inserting a catheter into the abdomen.
- Pancreatic surgery with removal of the cyst or pseudocyst, along with the affected part of the pancreas.
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
Edits to original content made by Denver Health.
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All rights reserved.
RESOURCES
Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians http://familydoctor.org
Kid's Health—Nemours Foundation http://kidshealth.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES
Health Canada https://www.canada.ca
Sick Kids—The Hospital for Sick Children http://www.sickkids.ca
References
Acute pancreatitis in children. The National Pancreas Foundation website. Available at: http://pancreasfoundation.org/patient-information/childrenpediatric-pancreatitis/acute-pancreatitis-in-children. Accessed December 21, 2017.
Acute pancreatitis. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T127664/Acute-pancreatitis . Updated June 5, 2017. Accessed December 21, 2017.
Pancreatic cysts and pseudocysts. Cleveland Clinic website. Available at: http://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases%5Fconditions/hic%5FPancreatitis/hic-pancreatic-cysts-and-pseudocysts. Updated April 24, 2014. Accessed December 21, 2017.
Pancreatitis. Johns Hopkins Children’s Center website. Available at: http://www.hopkinschildrens.org/Pancreatitis.aspx. Accessed December 21, 2017.
Pancreatitis. Kid's Health—Nemours Foundation website. Available at: http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/endocrine/pancreatitis.html. Updated April 2014. Accessed December 21, 2017.
Pancreatitis in children. Boston Children’s Hospital website. Available at: http://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions/pancreatitis. Accessed December 21, 2017.
Uretsky G, Goldschmiedt M, James K. Childhood pancreatitis. Am Fam Physician. 1999;59(9):2507-2512.
8/28/2014 DynaMed Plus Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T127664/Acute-pancreatitis : Johnson CD, Besselink MG, Carter R. Acute pancreatitis. BMJ. 2014;349:g4859.