Acute Pancreatitis In Pediatric Patients: Similarities and Differences From Adults

Jamshed Akhtar

Abstract

Acute pancreatitis in children is an uncommon condition. Most of the reported studies are either case series or case reports, addressing some unusual features of this condition. The true incidence of acute pancreatitis in pediatric population from Pakistan is not known. However, infections as an etiology is often reported. Artunduaga et al reported the incidence of acute appendicitis as 1- 13 per 100,000 people in a recently published review article.1 This figure is quite wide but still far less than that reported in adults.   

Morinville et al in a survey (INSPPIRE group - The International Study Group of Pediatric Pancreatitis) conducted to formulate definition of acute pancreatitis in children which included patients up to 19 years of age, suggested three criteria of which at least two were required to make a diagnosis of this condition. This include an epigastric abdominal pain of acute onset with raised serum amylase and /or lipase activity on blood test. The values must be at least 3 times higher than the upper limit of normal. In addition, it includes ultrasound, CT scan, MRI / MRCP or endoscopic ultrasound findings suggestive of acute pancreatitis.2................