Association, Clinical and Biochemical Profile of Pediatric Acute Pancreatitis in a Tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Acute pancreatitis in children typically presents differently and has a different course than in adults. Objective: To evaluate the association, clinical profile & biochemical evidence of childhood acute pancreatitis. Method: This cross-sectional study was done in the Department of Pediatrics Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh during January 2019 to July 2022. Total 65 children below 12 year of age having diagnostic criteria of acute pancreatitis made by INSPPIRE group were included in this study. Results: Children examined had a mean age of 8.1 3.2 years, with 35 (53.8%) being boys. The majority of patients presented with abdominal discomfort. The epigastric area was the most prevalent site of discomfort (82%), affecting 55 people (84.6%). Before being admitted, the average patient had been in agony for 3.4 2.2 days. Fifty (76.0%) patients presented with vomiting, 22 (33.8%) cases presented with fever, 5.7 (7.7%) cases presented with shock, and 3.4 (4.6%) cases presented with melena. Leukocytosis was detected in 32% of patients, whereas elevated blood lipase and amylase levels were found in 89% and 72% of patients, respectively, according to laboratory testing. We detected biochemical abnormalities including hypokalemia (8, or 12.3%), elevated ALT (6, 9.2%), hypocalcemia (5, or 7.7%), and elevated triglycerides (3, 4.6%). In 40 (61.5%) individuals, positive ultrasonographic results were seen. Four patients (6.2%) had pancreatic pseudocysts, while three patients (4.6%) had pancreatic necrosis. Acute pancreatitis occurred for no apparent reason in 36 people (55.4%). Five patients (7.7%) had biliary sludge, four (6.2%) had biliary ascariasis, four (6.2%) had a choledochal cyst, three (4.6%) had Henoch-Schönlein purpura, and three (4.6%) had hepatitis caused by drugs (valproic acid/L-asparginase). Conclusion: Epigastric pain was shown to be the most prevalent symptom of acute pancreatitis in youngsters. This was usually due to an unknown ....