How dangerous is acute pancreatitis in children?

This article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Vu Quoc Anh - Pediatrician - Pediatrics - Neonatology Department - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital. The doctor has nearly 10 years of experience as a resident and treating physician.

Acute pancreatitis in children is one of the dangerous diseases, the disease has no obvious symptoms. If the disease is detected slowly, if the child is not taken to the hospital in time, the child will face dangerous complications, even death.

Although the pancreas is only a small organ located in the abdomen, it plays an important role when it comes to secreting a number of enzymes that help digest sugars, proteins and fats from food.
Pancreatitis is divided into two types: acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis.
Acute pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas resulting in damage to the follicular cells due to the destruction of pancreatic enzymes.
Acute pancreatitis in children is often associated with a variety of medical conditions. The course of the disease can be mild, self-limiting to very severe, which can be life-threatening.
Usually, children with acute pancreatitis have abdominal pain, usually after a greasy meal. The child has pain around the belly button or pain above the belly button, the pain increases, especially the pain is worse after eating.

There are 3 main causes of acute pancreatitis in children:
Viral infection. Metabolic disorder. Genetic. In addition, causes such as trauma, gallstones, biliary sludge, bile duct worms, drugs (Valproic acid, azathioprin,...) can also cause pancreatitis.

Pain may come on suddenly or gradually increase. In the case of sudden pain, this is a common sign in severe cases. As the pain progresses slowly, it can have a mild onset. The pain is usually concentrated in the upper half of the abdomen or the upper left abdomen, and may radiate to the back. Pain usually lasts for several days. Pain occurs when eating and increases when lying on the back. In addition, patients may also have other symptoms such as nausea, fever, chills, fatigue, abdominal distension, rapid heart rate.

What are the symptoms of chronic pancreatitis?
Patient has pain in the middle and upper back and abdomen. There are signs of exhaustion, malnutrition. The excrement has a foul odor and is large in size. Your child may also have a bloated stomach and a fever. Usually, the symptoms of chronic pancreatitis are quite vague, much more difficult to recognize than the acute form.
Severe cases may have infection or bleeding, the patient may become dehydrated and low blood pressure with the following manifestations: Fatigue, dizziness, dizziness, coma, excitability, restlessness or Difficulty concentrating, headache. If blood pressure is too low, it will affect important organs in the body.
When there are abnormal symptoms above, parents should not self-treat with drugs, but should take the child to the hospital for a scientific diagnosis and treatment.