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 |
![]() |
Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc. |
Risk Factors
Factors that may increase your child’s risk of acute pancreatitis include:
- Certain medicine
- Specific viral infection
- Problems with how organs developed before birth
- Hyperlipidemia —excess lipids (fats) in the blood
- Hypercalcemia —excess calcium in the blood
- Cystic fibrosis
- Gallstones
- Diseases that affect blood vessels such as systemic lupus erythematosus , Henoch-Schönlein purpura
SymptomsandDiagnosis
Treatments
Treatment
Pancreatitis may get better on its own. Care may be needed for frequent vomiting and poor appetite. Fluids and nutrition may be provided through one of the following:
- IV fluids
- Total parenteral nutrition—nutrition given by IV
- Feeding tube—tube is passed through nose and into stomach
Further treatment may be needed if the pancreatitis is severe or does not pass on its own. Options include:
Medications
Pain medicine may be given. It may be over-the-counter or prescription. Antibiotics may also be given if there is an infection.
Other medicine may need to be stopped or changed if it is making symptoms worse.
Surgery
Surgery may be needed for severe problems. This may include bleeding, large infection, or uncontrolled pain.
Cysts and pseudocysts can also develop because of pancreatitis. Surgery may be needed to remove or drain them.
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.
Copyright © EBSCO Information Services
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 September 12, 2019.
Acute pancreatitis. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/acute-pancreatitis-in-children . Updated May 5, 2019. Accessed September 12, 2019.
Pancreatitis. Kid's Health—Nemours Foundation website. Available at: http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/endocrine/pancreatitis.html. Updated April 2014. Accessed September 12, 2019.
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.