Pancreatitis in children.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence, etiology and outcome of pancreatitis at a regional children's hospital.


METHODS
Chart review of all patients with pancreatitis seen during a 6 year period at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. The diagnosis of pancreatitis required either a serum amylase or lipase >3 times normal or radiographic evidence of pancreatitis.


RESULTS
Two hundred fourteen episodes of pancreatitis in 180 patients were documented. The most common etiologies were systemic disease (14%), trauma (14%), drug induced (12%), biliary tract disease (12%), infectious (8%), and idiopathic (8%), which made up 68% of the total cases. Eleven patients died, all from underlying systemic illnesses. The serum amylase and lipase were elevated in 82% and 83% of patients respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Pancreatitis is more common in children than previously thought. Upon careful assessment fewer cases were found to be idiopathic than in previous series. The outcome of pancreatitis depends on co-morbid conditions.
Werlin
Steven L
SL
Department of Pediatrics, The Medical College of Wisconsin, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226, USA. swerlin@mcw.edu
Kugathasan
Subra
S
Frautschy
Brenda Cowan
BC
D015746:Abdominal Pain; D000293:Adolescent; D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications; D008049:Lipase / Q000097:blood; D010179:Pancreas / Q000293:injuries; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011379:Prognosis; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects
D014635:Valproic Acid; D008049:Lipase; D000681:Amylases