Acute Pancreatitis in Children

Acute pancreatitis has become a common general pediatric condition with an increasing incidence over the past 2 decades. It presents with nonspecific complaints of abdominal pain, vomiting, and nausea. Therefore, it is crucial to have it on the differential diagnosis, as it requires prompt treatment and has the potential to become life-threatening. Although pancreatic rest, antiemetics, analgesia, and hydration remain the mainstay of treatment, a new perspective on fluid management, early enteral nutrition, and opioid use has evolved. This review identifies gaps in management awareness and provides understanding on long-term implications of acute and recurrent pancreatitis. This article also reviews the epidemiology, diagnostic criteria, imaging and procedural modalities, common causes, management, and complications of acute pancreatitis and is geared toward the general pediatric hospitalist.