Paediatric pancreatitis

Abstract

Purpose of review The purpose of this review is to describe recent developments in paediatric pancreatitis and to discuss causes and current management. Recent findings Although recent studies have estimated the annual incidence of paediatric acute pancreatitis approaching that of adults, there are no established guidelines about its diagnosis and treatment in children. Genetic and structural/congenital abnormalities are emerging as the primary risk factors for paediatric acute recurrent and chronic pancreatitis. Specifically, chronic pancreatitis is associated with a significant socioeconomic burden in children. Both medical and surgical therapies are proposed for paediatric chronic pancreatitis, but there is little evidence that they are beneficial. Summary Acute recurrent and chronic pancreatitis create significant health issues in the paediatric population. Medical and surgical therapies exist to potentially treat these conditions, but the paediatric data are limited and the cohorts are small. A multidisciplinary and multicentre approach is necessary to better determine pancreatic disease processes and treatment options in children.