Ultrasound of the pancreas in a child and diagnosis of pancreatitis in children

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The basis for diagnosis of inflammation of the pancreas in children is ultrasound, which allows to determine the form of the disease, the features of its course, and also on the basis of this information to draw conclusions about the forthcoming treatment. What are the features of the procedure?

Indications for pancreatic ultrasound in children

It is important to understand that to conduct pancreatic ultrasound in children, a corresponding referral from a doctor will be required, based on signs and symptoms indicating the development of pancreatitis.

The main indications for this procedure are: painful sensations in the navel, like the whole body, and yet appearing in the abdomen and back. Ultrasound can detect possible changes or deformities of such organs of the gastrointestinal tract as: 12 duodenum or stomach, which can also cause the development of severe pain.

The ultrasound is also performed in cases where there is a suspicion of the development of a cancerous tumor or cyst requiring urgent removal or treatment. Due to timely diagnostics, many pathological changes can be avoided, and therefore, in the presence of a doctor's recommendation, the procedure should never be postponed.

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Carrying out the diagnosis in children requires compulsory preliminary training. So, for a day, or better for two, it is necessary to completely eliminate fatty, salty, acidic and fried foods, creating an additional burden, both on the stomach and on the pancreas.

Also before ultrasound, be sure to consult a doctor. If necessary, reception of enzyme preparations, positively affecting the pancreas, and also a laxative, can be prescribed for children if gastrointestinal problems cause such problems as constipation, diarrhea, or irregular stools. It is often recommended that you take activated charcoal, at a rate of 1 tablet per 10 kilograms of weight, but this question should also be discussed additionally with the attending physician.

Pancreas can be scanned in children only if there is appropriate evidence for this, or on the advice of a doctor. At the same time, it is necessary not to forget the importance of preliminary preparation for ultrasound, which allows obtaining the most accurate result of the diagnostic study and revealing the existing problem in the pancreas.

Diagnosis of pancreatitis in children

Pancreatic disease in children is rarely diagnosed. As a rule, the predominant interstitial acute form, less often - destructive acute. The diagnosis is made on the basis of examination, palpation, laboratory and instrumental studies.

Inspection and palpation of

When a child is examined with suspicion of interstitial acute pancreatitis, paleness and hyperemia of the face, tachycardia and a tendency to increase blood pressure are noted. Also, bloating and muscle resistance in the epigastric region can be noted. A manual examination of the pancreas reveals a local pain syndrome, with an increase after pressure.

In children with destructive acute pancreatitis, bloating, muscle tension and inability to palpate are noted in children. A frequent, weak pulse, a tendency to lower blood pressure.

Laboratory Diagnostics

For the diagnosis of pancreatitis, children are prescribed a general and biochemical blood test, urine, as well as special tests for determining diastase in urine, blood serum amylase, protein and glucose levels. To determine the exocrine secretion of the prostate, the physical, chemical, microscopic characteristics of the stool( coprogram) and lipidogram are performed, and the activity of pancreatic elastase is determined in the stool.

In acute interstitial pancreatitis, a general blood test in a child reveals leukocytosis( moderate or severe), neutrophilia, a slight increase in ALT.Biochemical analysis shows a moderate and short-lived increase in the activity of pancreatic and hyperglycaemic enzymes. On chronic pancreatitis, the child will be indicated by steatorrhea and creatorrhea.

In acute destructive form of the disease in children marked neutrophilic leukocytosis, increased ESR, thrombocytopenia. Enzymatic activity of the prostate is clearly expressed and persistent.

Tool Methods

Among these methods, the most commonly used ultrasound is the study, which allows you to determine the change in volume, areas of necrosis, compaction and heterogeneity of the parenchyma. The presence of stones and other dense formations, changes in the organs of the digestive tract is determined by an overview radiograph. Also for the diagnosis of pancreatitis in children, CT and MRI can be prescribed. Endosonography can detect early changes in the parenchyma and ducts of the gland, as well as other pathological conditions that are not diagnosed during routine ultrasound.

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