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Pancreatitis in children

Steven L Werlin1, Subra Kugathasan, Brenda Cowan Frautschy

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, The Medical College of Wisconsin, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226, USA. swerlin@mcw.edu

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
|October 29, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric pancreatitis is more common than previously believed, with systemic disease and trauma as leading causes. Patient outcomes are strongly linked to co-existing medical conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Hepatology
  • Clinical Pediatrics

Background:

  • Pancreatitis in children is a significant clinical concern.
  • Understanding its incidence, causes, and outcomes is crucial for effective management.
  • Previous studies may have underestimated the frequency of pediatric pancreatitis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the incidence, etiology, and outcomes of pancreatitis in a pediatric population.
  • To identify common causes of pancreatitis in children.
  • To assess the factors influencing patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective chart review was conducted over a six-year period at a regional children's hospital.
  • Patients diagnosed with pancreatitis were identified based on elevated serum amylase or lipase levels ( >3 times normal) or radiographic evidence.
  • Data on patient demographics, etiology, and outcomes were collected.

Main Results:

  • Two hundred fourteen episodes of pancreatitis were documented in 180 pediatric patients.
  • The most frequent etiologies included systemic disease (14%), trauma (14%), drug-induced (12%), and biliary tract disease (12%).
  • Eleven patients (approximately 6%) died, primarily due to underlying systemic illnesses; serum amylase and lipase were elevated in most cases.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric pancreatitis occurs more frequently than previously reported.
  • A thorough evaluation revealed fewer idiopathic cases than in prior research.
  • Patient outcomes are significantly influenced by the presence of co-morbid conditions.
Abstract

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