Causes, diagnosis and diet for pancreatitis in children
Content:
- Causes of pancreatitis in childhood
- Types of pancreatitis in childhood
- Diagnosis of pancreatitis in childhood
- Diet for pancreatitis in a child
Pancreatitis is an inflammatory process in the pancreas, which is responsible for the production of the hormone insulin and digestive enzymes. The disease is considered dangerous and, in some cases, fatal. The danger is also that of all people with pancreatitis, only a few percent of patients are registered.
Inflammation of the pancreas occurs in both adults and children. However, children's pancreatitis has its own characteristics.
It is noted that children living in cities are more likely to get sick. According to some data, the disease occurs in one to two hundred people per thousand of the population. There are three types of the course of the disease: acute, chronic and reactive.
Causes of pancreatitis in childhood
Since the child's body is much more active than that of an adult, then his reaction to allergic or inflammatory processes is much more acute, certainly affecting the pancreas. The main reasons for the development of the disease in children:
- lack of a diet (regular long breaks between meals),
- improper diet,
- abuse of harmful products (fast food, chips, sweet soda, mayonnaise, smoked meats, etc.) stimulates the active production of enzymes and can cause an acute form of the disease,
- the use of certain groups of medicines sometimes leads to reactive pancreatitis,
- food poisoning
- abdominal trauma
- congenital pathologies of the digestive system,
- food allergies and lactase deficiency in infants,
- ascariasis - a violation of the outflow from the gland into the duodenum caused by parasites (ascaris worms),
- excessive physical exertion, falls from a height, leading to injuries to the back or abdomen,
- various disorders in the work of the gallbladder, pancreatic ducts, duodenum,
- mumps, cystic fibrosis, lupus erythematosus, influenza, hypothyroidism.
Types of pancreatitis in childhood
In children, acute pancreatitis is quite rare and proceeds more easily than in an adult. Swelling of the gland is usually caused by an allergic reaction to drugs or food. In infancy, the symptoms are mild, with the age of the child they become brighter. The following symptoms indicate an acute form of the course of the disease: fever, vomiting, nausea, white bloom on the tongue, diarrhea (multiple), pain in the abdomen.
Chronic pancreatitis in children is considered a very common disease. Its main cause is the wrong diet and diet. It is characterized by irreversible changes in the structure of the pancreas. During exacerbations, the gland becomes inflamed, causing pain to the child.
The main symptoms of chronic pancreatitis include: chronic diarrhea or constipation, vomiting, weight loss, nausea, loss of appetite, drowsiness, as well as allergic rashes and fatigue.
Reactive pancreatitis is one of the most common types of pancreatitis in childhood. For a child, the cause of this disease can be food poisoning, another inflammatory disease, an acute respiratory viral infection. In this case, reactive pancreatitis has the symptoms of acute pancreatitis.
Find out more: The most effective recipes for restoring the pancreas!
Diagnosis of pancreatitis in childhood
If the above symptoms manifest, you should immediately consult a specialist. It is advisable to consult a pediatrician and gastroenterologist. After the examination, the doctor decides which diagnostic methods need to be carried out.
The main methods for diagnosing pancreatitis:
- Complete blood count - an increased number of leukocytes reveals an inflammatory process in the body.
- A biochemical blood test reveals an increased level of enzymes in the blood, indicating acute, chronic or reactive pancreatitis. The disease is indicated by an excess of trypsin, lipase and amylase.
- Coprogram makes it possible to see under-digested food particles. This means that the pancreas does not produce enough enzymes.
- An ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs allows you to see deviations in their work, size, structure.
- Urinalysis for the presence of amylase.
Diet for pancreatitis in a child
Proper nutrition is not only a method of preventing pancreatitis, but also a prerequisite for its effective treatment. During the period of illness, it is important to follow the diet. To prescribe a diet, you should consult a doctor. He will select the optimal diet, serving size, depending on the age and condition of the child.
More about nutrition and menus for pancreatitis
It is necessary to exclude fatty, smoked, black bread, cabbage, baked goods, marinades, strong tea, carbonated water and fatty fish from the diet. Do not give ice cream, legumes, radishes, pickles.
The author of the article: Sokolova Praskovya Fedorovna | Pediatrician
Education: Diploma in the specialty "General Medicine" received at the Volgograd State Medical University. A specialist certificate was immediately received in 2014.
