Pediatric pancreas disease

What is pediatric pancreas disease?

Your child’s pancreas produces hormones and enzymes that help control blood sugar and digest food. A child with pancreas disease has trouble with these functions because the pancreas is inflamed. Inflammation of the pancreas is called pancreatitis.

• Acute pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas that causes sudden symptoms that resolve in a few days.

• Chronic pancreatitis is inflammation that comes and goes and gets worse over time. It can lead to permanent damage to the pancreas or loss of function.

What are the signs and symptoms of pediatric pancreas disease?

• Back pain

• Bowel movements that appear oily

• Diabetes 

• Diarrhea

• Jaundice

• Frequent vomiting or nausea 

• Stomach pain that gets worse after eating

• Stomach pain after eating high-fat foods

• Swollen abdomen

• Unintended weight loss

• Upper abdominal pain

What are the causes of pediatric pancreas disease?

• Congenital pancreas disease - Your child may be born with pancreas disease if they inherit a gene mutation (permanent change). This is called congenital (present at birth) pancreas disease.

• Pancreatic divisum - Pancreas disease can also be caused by a birth defect called pancreatic divisum. This causes two ducts to form in the pancreas, rather than a single duct, and frequently leads to blocked bile ducts.

Other causes of acute and chronic pancreatitis may include:

• Certain medicines

• Blocked bile duct

• Gallstones

• Infection

• Injury to the pancreas

• Metabolic abnormality (a problem with the chemical process used to transform food into energy)

• Obstructed (blocked) pancreatic duct

• Side effect of another disease