Etiology and Diagnosis of Pancreatitis in Children

Systemic Diseases and Anatomical Causes

Cystic fibrosis is an important cause of pancreatitis in children, with a birth prevalence of approximately 1/3,700 in the United States, and patients with pancreatic sufficiency are at risk for developing pancreatitis as they age, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1, 2, 3
Inflammatory bowel disease, particularly Crohn's disease, is associated with pancreatitis in children, as reported by the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation 4
Hypertriglyceridemia can cause pancreatitis, especially when triglyceride levels exceed 700-1000 mg/dL, as stated by the American Heart Association 5
Pancreatic duct abnormalities, including obstruction, irregularity, or dilatation, can lead to pancreatitis, according to the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 4
Pancreas divisum is an anatomical variant that predisposes to pancreatitis, as noted by the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism 6, 7
Biliary tract disease, including gallstones, is an important cause of pancreatitis in children, as reported by the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 4
Hypercalcemia can contribute to the development of pancreatitis, as stated by the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism 6, 7
Autoimmune pancreatitis, though less common in children, should be considered in the differential diagnosis, according to the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation 4

Screening for cystic fibrosis should be performed in children with unexplained pancreatitis, as recommended by the American Diabetes Association 8
Evaluation for metabolic disorders, such as hyperlipidemia and hypercalcemia, is important in the workup, as stated by the American Heart Association 5 and the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism 6
Imaging studies to identify anatomical abnormalities are essential in the diagnostic approach, as reported by the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation 4