CLINICAL PRESENTATION,AETIOLOGY AND COMPLICATIONS OF PANCREATITIS IN CHILDREN

Background: childhood pancreatitis is an uncommon but serious condition with incidence on the rise. it manifests as acute or chronic form with epigastric pain,vomiting and elevated serum -amylase and lipase. this study was conducted with the aim to determine the clinical presentation,aetiology,and complications of pancreatitis in children.methods: this descriptive case series was conducted in the department of paediatric gastroenterology,hepatology and nutrition,the children's hospital & the institute of child health,lahore from 1st january to 31st december 2014. seventy-two patients up to the age of 15 years having abdominal pain,amylase >200 iu/l and/or lipase >165 iu/l,with features of acute or chronic pancreatitis on abdominal imaging; were included in study. data analysis was done using spss-20.results: of the total 72 patients,43 (60%) had acute pancreatitis,males were 25 (58%) and females 18 (42%) and chronic pancreatitis was diagnosed in 29 (40%),males 10 (34%) and females 19 (66%). common clinical features were abdominal pain (100%),nausea and vomiting (79%). common aetiologies were idiopathic (40%) while choledochal cyst 8%,hyperlipidaemia 7%,biliary tract stones/sludge 7% and abdominal trauma 6%. complications were more frequently associated with acute pancreatitis (60%) than with chronic pancreatitis (34%). common complications were pseudo-pancreatic cyst (36%),ascites (17%) and pleural effusion (4%).conclusion: abdominal pain,nausea and vomiting were common presenting features of childhood pancreatitis. common aetiologies were idiopathic hyperlipidemia,biliary tract stones/sludge,choledochal cyst and abdominal trauma. common complications were pseudo-pancreatic cyst,ascites and pleural effusion.