BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuPancreatitis - childrenPancreatitis in children, as in adults, occurs when the pancreas becomes swollen and inflamed. Causes The pancreas is an organ behind the stomach.It produces chemicals called enzymes, which are needed to digest food. Most of the time, the enzymes are only active after they reach the small intestine.When these enzymes become active inside the pancreas, they digest the tissue of the pancreas. This causes swelling, bleeding and damage to the organ and its blood vessels. This condition is called pancreatitis.Common causes of pancreatitis in children include:Trauma to the belly, such as from a bicycle handlebar injury Blocked bile duct Side effects of medicine, such as anti-seizure medicines, chemotherapy, or some antibiotics Side effectsAn overdose is when you take more than the recommended amount of something, often a medicine or drug. An overdose may result in serious, harmful sym...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Viral infections, including mumps and coxsackie B MumpsMumps is a contagious disease that leads to painful swelling of the salivary glands. The salivary glands produce saliva, a liquid that moistens food...Read Article Now Book Mark Article High blood levels of a fat in the blood, called triglyceridesTriglyceridesFamilial hypertriglyceridemia is a common disorder passed down through families. It causes a higher-than-normal level of triglycerides (a type of fa...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Other causes include:After an organ or bone marrow transplant Cystic fibrosis Cystic fibrosisCystic fibrosis is a disease that causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs, digestive tract, and other areas of the body. It is one of th...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Crohn disease and other disorders, when the body's immune system attacks and destroys healthy body tissue by mistake Immune systemThe immune response is how your body recognizes and defends itself against bacteria, viruses, and substances that appear foreign and harmful....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Type 1 diabetes that is uncontrolled Overactive parathyroid gland Overactive parathyroid glandHyperparathyroidism is a disorder in which 1 or more of the parathyroid glands in your neck produce too much parathyroid hormone (PTH).Read Article Now Book Mark Article Kawasaki diseaseKawasaki diseaseKawasaki disease is a rare condition that involves inflammation of the blood vessels. It occurs in children.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Sometimes, the cause is unknown. Symptoms The main symptom of pancreatitis in children is severe pain in the upper abdomen. Sometimes the pain may spread to the back, lower abdomen, and front part of the chest. The pain may increase after meals.Other symptoms may include:Cough Nausea and vomiting Swelling in the abdomen Fever Yellowing of the skin, called jaundice JaundiceJaundice is a yellow color of the skin, mucus membranes, or eyes. The yellow coloring comes from bilirubin, a byproduct of old red blood cells. Jau...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Loss of appetite Increased pulse Exams and Tests Your child's health care provider will do a physical exam, which may show:Abdominal tenderness or lump (mass) Fever Low blood pressure Low blood pressureLow blood pressure occurs when blood pressure is much lower than normal. This means the heart, brain, and other parts of the body may not get enough...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Fast heart rate Fast breathing rateThe provider will perform lab tests to check the release of pancreatic enzymes. These include tests to check the:Blood amylase level Blood amylase levelAmylase is an enzyme that helps digest carbohydrates. It is made primarily in the pancreas and the glands that make saliva, and can be found at low ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Blood lipase level Blood lipase levelLipase is a protein (enzyme) released by the pancreas into the small intestine. It helps the body absorb fat. This test is used to measure the amou...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Urine amylase levelOther blood tests include:Complete blood count (CBC) Complete blood count (CBC)A complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Panel or group of blood tests that provide an overall picture of your body's chemical balanceBlood tests that provide an overall pic...A comprehensive metabolic panel is a group of blood tests. They provide an overall picture of your body's chemical balance and metabolism. Metaboli...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Imaging tests that can show inflammation of the pancreas include:Ultrasound of the abdomen (most common) Ultrasound of the abdomenAbdominal ultrasound is a type of imaging test. It is used to look at organs in the abdomen, including the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, and...Read Article Now Book Mark Article CT scan of the abdomen CT scan of the abdomenAn abdominal CT scan is an imaging method. This test uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the belly area. CT stands for computed tomog...Read Article Now Book Mark Article MRI of the abdomenMRI of the abdomenAn abdominal magnetic resonance imaging scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves. The waves create pictures of the inside ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Treatment may require a stay in the hospital. It may involve:Pain medicines Stopping food or fluids by mouth Fluids given through a vein (IV) Anti-nausea medicines for nausea and vomiting Low-fat dietThe provider may insert a tube through the child's nose or mouth to remove contents of the stomach. The tube will be left in for one or more days. This may be done if vomiting and severe pain don't improve. The child also may be given food through a vein (IV) or a feeding tube.The child can be given solid food once they stop vomiting. Most children are able to take solid food within 1 or 2 days after an attack of acute pancreatitis.In some cases, therapy is needed to:Drain fluid that has collected in or around the pancreas Remove gallstones GallstonesGallstones are hard deposits that form inside the gallbladder. These may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Relieve blockages of the pancreatic duct Outlook (Prognosis) Most cases go away in a week. Children usually recover completely.Chronic pancreatitis is rarely seen in children. When it occurs, it is most often due to genetic defects or birth defects of the pancreas or biliary ducts. Possible Complications Severe irritation of the pancreas, and pancreatitis due to blunt trauma, such as from a bike handle bar, can cause complications. These may include:Collection of fluid around the pancreas PancreasA pancreatic pseudocyst is a fluid-filled sac in the abdomen that arises from the pancreas. It may also contain tissue from the pancreas, enzymes, a...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Buildup of fluid in the abdomen (ascites)AscitesAscites is the build-up of fluid in the space between the lining of the abdomen and abdominal organs.Read Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Call the provider if your child shows symptoms of pancreatitis. Also call if your child has these symptoms:Intense, constant abdominal pain Develops other symptoms of acute pancreatitis Severe upper abdominal pain and vomiting Prevention Most of the time, there is no way to prevent pancreatitis.Open ReferencesReferencesKliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM. Pancreatitis. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 378.Schaffzin JK. Acute pancreatitis. In: Long SS, ed. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 62.Vitale DS, Abu-El-Haija M. Pancreatitis. In: Wyllie R, Hyams JS, Kay M, eds. Pediatric Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 82.AllVideoImagesTogRelated Information Review Date: 5/6/2022 Reviewed By: Michael M. Phillips, MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. 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Pancreatitis - childrenPancreatitis in children, as in adults, occurs when the pancreas becomes swollen and inflamed. Causes The pancreas is an organ behind the stomach.It produces chemicals called enzymes, which are needed to digest food. Most of the time, the enzymes are only active after they reach the small intestine.When these enzymes become active inside the pancreas, they digest the tissue of the pancreas. This causes swelling, bleeding and damage to the organ and its blood vessels. This condition is called pancreatitis.Common causes of pancreatitis in children include:Trauma to the belly, such as from a bicycle handlebar injury Blocked bile duct Side effects of medicine, such as anti-seizure medicines, chemotherapy, or some antibiotics Side effectsAn overdose is when you take more than the recommended amount of something, often a medicine or drug. An overdose may result in serious, harmful sym...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Viral infections, including mumps and coxsackie B MumpsMumps is a contagious disease that leads to painful swelling of the salivary glands. The salivary glands produce saliva, a liquid that moistens food...Read Article Now Book Mark Article High blood levels of a fat in the blood, called triglyceridesTriglyceridesFamilial hypertriglyceridemia is a common disorder passed down through families. It causes a higher-than-normal level of triglycerides (a type of fa...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Other causes include:After an organ or bone marrow transplant Cystic fibrosis Cystic fibrosisCystic fibrosis is a disease that causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs, digestive tract, and other areas of the body. It is one of th...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Crohn disease and other disorders, when the body's immune system attacks and destroys healthy body tissue by mistake Immune systemThe immune response is how your body recognizes and defends itself against bacteria, viruses, and substances that appear foreign and harmful....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Type 1 diabetes that is uncontrolled Overactive parathyroid gland Overactive parathyroid glandHyperparathyroidism is a disorder in which 1 or more of the parathyroid glands in your neck produce too much parathyroid hormone (PTH).Read Article Now Book Mark Article Kawasaki diseaseKawasaki diseaseKawasaki disease is a rare condition that involves inflammation of the blood vessels. It occurs in children.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Sometimes, the cause is unknown. Symptoms The main symptom of pancreatitis in children is severe pain in the upper abdomen. Sometimes the pain may spread to the back, lower abdomen, and front part of the chest. The pain may increase after meals.Other symptoms may include:Cough Nausea and vomiting Swelling in the abdomen Fever Yellowing of the skin, called jaundice JaundiceJaundice is a yellow color of the skin, mucus membranes, or eyes. The yellow coloring comes from bilirubin, a byproduct of old red blood cells. Jau...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Loss of appetite Increased pulse Exams and Tests Your child's health care provider will do a physical exam, which may show:Abdominal tenderness or lump (mass) Fever Low blood pressure Low blood pressureLow blood pressure occurs when blood pressure is much lower than normal. This means the heart, brain, and other parts of the body may not get enough...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Fast heart rate Fast breathing rateThe provider will perform lab tests to check the release of pancreatic enzymes. These include tests to check the:Blood amylase level Blood amylase levelAmylase is an enzyme that helps digest carbohydrates. It is made primarily in the pancreas and the glands that make saliva, and can be found at low ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Blood lipase level Blood lipase levelLipase is a protein (enzyme) released by the pancreas into the small intestine. It helps the body absorb fat. This test is used to measure the amou...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Urine amylase levelOther blood tests include:Complete blood count (CBC) Complete blood count (CBC)A complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Panel or group of blood tests that provide an overall picture of your body's chemical balanceBlood tests that provide an overall pic...A comprehensive metabolic panel is a group of blood tests. They provide an overall picture of your body's chemical balance and metabolism. Metaboli...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Imaging tests that can show inflammation of the pancreas include:Ultrasound of the abdomen (most common) Ultrasound of the abdomenAbdominal ultrasound is a type of imaging test. It is used to look at organs in the abdomen, including the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, and...Read Article Now Book Mark Article CT scan of the abdomen CT scan of the abdomenAn abdominal CT scan is an imaging method. This test uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the belly area. CT stands for computed tomog...Read Article Now Book Mark Article MRI of the abdomenMRI of the abdomenAn abdominal magnetic resonance imaging scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves. The waves create pictures of the inside ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Treatment may require a stay in the hospital. It may involve:Pain medicines Stopping food or fluids by mouth Fluids given through a vein (IV) Anti-nausea medicines for nausea and vomiting Low-fat dietThe provider may insert a tube through the child's nose or mouth to remove contents of the stomach. The tube will be left in for one or more days. This may be done if vomiting and severe pain don't improve. The child also may be given food through a vein (IV) or a feeding tube.The child can be given solid food once they stop vomiting. Most children are able to take solid food within 1 or 2 days after an attack of acute pancreatitis.In some cases, therapy is needed to:Drain fluid that has collected in or around the pancreas Remove gallstones GallstonesGallstones are hard deposits that form inside the gallbladder. These may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Relieve blockages of the pancreatic duct Outlook (Prognosis) Most cases go away in a week. Children usually recover completely.Chronic pancreatitis is rarely seen in children. When it occurs, it is most often due to genetic defects or birth defects of the pancreas or biliary ducts. Possible Complications Severe irritation of the pancreas, and pancreatitis due to blunt trauma, such as from a bike handle bar, can cause complications. These may include:Collection of fluid around the pancreas PancreasA pancreatic pseudocyst is a fluid-filled sac in the abdomen that arises from the pancreas. It may also contain tissue from the pancreas, enzymes, a...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Buildup of fluid in the abdomen (ascites)AscitesAscites is the build-up of fluid in the space between the lining of the abdomen and abdominal organs.Read Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Call the provider if your child shows symptoms of pancreatitis. Also call if your child has these symptoms:Intense, constant abdominal pain Develops other symptoms of acute pancreatitis Severe upper abdominal pain and vomiting Prevention Most of the time, there is no way to prevent pancreatitis.Open ReferencesReferencesKliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM. Pancreatitis. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 378.Schaffzin JK. Acute pancreatitis. In: Long SS, ed. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 62.Vitale DS, Abu-El-Haija M. Pancreatitis. In: Wyllie R, Hyams JS, Kay M, eds. Pediatric Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 82.