Specialties & Conditions Pancreatitis
Pediatric Pancreatitis
What Is Pediatric Pancreatitis?
Pancreatitis occurs when your child’s pancreas becomes inflamed. The pancreas swells, causing abdominal pain. Some children with pancreatitis develop fluid-filled growths called pancreatic pseudocysts. These cysts can become infected and cause pain.
Pancreatitis in children isn’t common. But some children are more prone to it. A child with pancreatitis needs proper medical care to ease pain and minimize the risk of organ damage.
What Does the Pancreas Do?
The pancreas is located toward the back of your child’s belly in front of their spine. Your child’s liver, gallbladder and spleen surround it.
The pancreas is both a gastrointestinal (GI) organ and a gland. It makes:
- Insulin, glucagon and other hormones that control how much sugar is in your child’s blood (glucose)
- Pancreatic enzymes (proteins) that break down sugars, fats and starches in foods, helping your child’s body absorb nutrients
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What Are the Types of Pediatric Pancreatitis?
The different types of pediatric pancreatitis include:
- Acute pancreatitis: Most children with pancreatitis have acute pancreatitis. Symptoms appear suddenly, last a few days, and then go away. The condition doesn’t return.
- Acute recurrent pancreatitis: This type of pancreatitis continues to occur months or years after your child recovers from an episode of acute pancreatitis. Your child may have several attacks or flares of acute pancreatitis throughout their lifetime.
- Chronic pancreatitis: With chronic pancreatitis, inflammation persists for months or years. This nonstop inflammation can cause permanent damage to your child’s pancreas.
What Causes Pancreatitis in Children?
Pancreatitis in children is a sign of irritation, inflammation or injury to the pancreas. Common causes of pediatric pancreatitis include:
What Are Risk Factors for Pediatric Pancreatitis?
While any child can develop pancreatitis, these factors can increase the risk:
- Being Black, Hispanic or Native Alaskan
- Cystic fibrosis (CF)
- Family history of gallstones or pancreatitis
- High cholesterol and triglycerides (lipids)
- Sickle cell disease
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Pediatric Pancreatitis?
Severe upper abdominal pain is the most common sign of pancreatitis in children. The pain may be constant or come and go. Your child may also have these symptoms:
What Are the Complications of Pediatric Pancreatitis?
Acute recurrent and chronic pancreatitis can lead to these complications:
- Diabetes
- Difficulty digesting certain foods and absorbing nutrients
- Failure to thrive or inability to gain weight
- Vitamin deficiencies
How Is Pediatric Pancreatitis Diagnosed?
Because pancreatitis tends to come on suddenly, many children receive a diagnosis at an emergency department. Tests to diagnose pancreatitis may include:
- Blood test to check for elevated pancreatic and liver enzymes, as well as infections
- Abdominal CT scan to look for pancreatic inflammation, damage and pseudocysts
- Abdominal ultrasound to look for gallstones
- Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), a specialized MRI that detects gallstones and bile duct blockages
How Is Pediatric Pancreatitis Treated?
Pediatric gastroenterologists at Lurie Children’s treat pancreatitis in children. Your child’s treatment depends on the type of pancreatitis and symptom severity. Most children with pancreatitis receive care in the hospital to ensure a safe recovery.
Nonsurgical Pancreatitis Treatments
Acute pancreatitis that isn’t caused by gallstones or a blocked duct often improves in a few days. During this time, your child may receive these treatments in the hospital:
- IV fluids to prevent dehydration
- Pain medications to ease discomfort
- Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) or tube feeding to provide nutrients while the pancreas heals
Children with chronic pancreatitis may need to avoid certain foods and take pancreatic enzyme supplements at every meal to aid digestion.
Surgical Pancreatitis Treatments
Gallstones or blockages that cause pancreatitis require surgical treatment. These treatments may include:
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): During ERCP, a GI doctor threads an endoscope (thin, flexible tube with a video camera and light) through your child’s mouth to reach their digestive organs. The doctor uses tiny instruments to break up and remove gallstones through the scope device. There are no surgical incisions.
- Gallbladder removal: A general pediatric surgeon uses a laparoscope (thin, flexible tube with a video camera and light) to remove your child’s gallbladder through several small abdominal incisions. Our surgeons may use fluorescence-guided surgery, injecting a safe dye into your child’s bloodstream to aid the procedure.
- Pancreatic pseudocyst drainage: Our pediatric GI doctors and interventional radiologists use advanced imaging technology to drain infected pancreatic pseudocysts. Treatment takes place using a catheter (thin tube) inserted into a small incision in your child’s abdomen.
What Is Lurie Children’s Approach to Caring for Children With Pancreatitis?
Lurie Children’s provides a comprehensive, compassionate approach to caring for children with pancreatitis. Your child receives care at one of the nation’s top-rated children’s hospitals for gastroenterology and gastroenterology (GI) surgery, as rated by U.S. News & World Report.
We offer:
- Dedicated pediatric GI clinic: Specialists at our GI Clinic monitor children who have recurrent or chronic pancreatitis. We perform regular checkups and create customized treatment plans to ease your child’s symptoms.
- High-level cystic fibrosis care: Children with cystic fibrosis and pancreatitis receive care from a team of specialists at our Cystic Fibrosis Center. We’re home to the largest accredited Cystic Fibrosis Foundation center in Illinois.
- Help for abdominal pain: Children with persistent abdominal pain from inflammatory digestive disorders, such as chronic pancreatitis, get symptom relief at our Comprehensive Chronic Abdominal Pain Program.
- Team approach to care: Your child’s care team may include registered dietitians, social workers and Child Life Specialists. We coordinate care with your child’s primary doctor, helping to provide the best outcomes.
- Advanced surgery center: Lurie Children’s was the first pediatric hospital in Illinois to be recognized as a Level 1 Children’s Surgery Center. This recognition from the American College of Surgeons (ACS) means your child receives the highest level surgical care.
- Anesthesia tailored for kids: Your child’s surgical treatments take place under the care of pediatric anesthesiologists with subspecialty training in sedating pediatric patients. Our doctors ensure your child is safe and comfortable before, during and after surgery.
Lurie Children’s Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
U.S. News & World Report rates Lurie Children’s Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition among the best in the country. Our doctors see more children with digestive disorders than any other program in Illinois. Our interdisciplinary approach to care includes support services for children and their families affected by chronic digestive diseases. We offer the latest evidence-based treatments that help your child grow and enjoy life to the fullest.
Learn more about Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.