Paediatric pancreatitis

Paediatric pancreatitis results from an insult to the pancreas leading to an acute inflammatory response with variable involvement of other local tissues or remote organs. The incidence of acute paediatric pancreatitis has been rising in the last 20 years and is now approaching the incidence in adults. However, most of our understanding of paediatric pancreatitis has been extrapolated from adult studies. Studies informing optimal management in children are lacking. A significant proportion of children who get acute pancreatitis go on to have recurrent acute pancreatitis or chronic pancreatitis. It is essential therefore to provide optimal management in the acute phase of the condition as this may prevent secondary complications. In this article we summarise the limited available evidence in the diagnosis and management of children focussing on acute pancreatitis. We briefly discuss recurrent and chronic pancreatitis and introduce the role of genetics in defining the missing links in our understanding of the development of chronic pancreatitis.