The child's body is quite susceptible to various diseases. After birth, the baby’s organs begin to develop intensively, and immunity is strengthened. But sometimes the body fails - pathological changes in various organs, including the pancreas, occur. If it is increased above the average value - this is a cause for concern.
The structure of the pancreas
This body consists of the following departments:
- head - it protrudes slightly from behind the stomach and is covered by a loop formed by the duodenum;
- the body is the largest section that is located behind the stomach, but between them is an omental bursa;
- the tail is the back of the organ that abuts the spleen.
The structure of the gland is represented by lobes with a secret in them. Between them are the nerve endings and blood vessels. A duct runs along the entire length of the organ, which is used for digestive secretion. Important functions of the gland are the secretion of gastric juice and the regulation of blood sugar.
If she does not cope with this, then there is a certain discomfort: flatulence, upset stomach, bloating and other troubles. Such symptoms indicate the development of a serious disease, which, without timely treatment, can lead to complications.
Gland sizes
The normal size of the pancreas in a child depends mainly on his age. In a newborn, the length of the organ is 5 cm or slightly more. During the first six months of life, it increases only by 1 cm, up to a year it grows by another 1 cm. Thus, the iron of a one-year-old child reaches 7 cm in length, and the diameter of the head is one centimeter.
Throughout life, iron gradually increases in size. Over 10 years, its growth has been very slow, increasing during this time by 2 times. An enlarged pancreas in a child can be observed during puberty, when it grows sharply by 8 cm. By the age of 18, this organ usually reaches standard sizes, reaching a length of 23 cm and a width of 3 cm. Its circumference is 7 cm.
Examining a child, the doctor uses a special table to find out if there are deviations of the gland from the norm. For this, indicators such as weight, height, gender and age are taken into account. Depending on this, the norms for the size of the pancreas in a child should be as follows:
- body - 1–1.3 cm;
- head - 1.5–2.1 mm;
- tail - 1.7–2.4 mm.
The size of the organ and its appearance may indicate various diseases.
Why is it necessary to examine children?
Children's problems associated with the enlargement of this organ are in many ways similar to those that adults suffer. Children of any age must be carefully examined in order to promptly identify such a pathology. This is explained by the fact that iron can grow several times, but not always proportionally.
Quite often it happens that the growth of an organ does not always comply with accepted standards, but it will be proportional to other organs. In this case, it is in childhood that congenital malformations of the pancreas and its increase are diagnosed for the first time.
The main causes of gland enlargement
The pancreas can have a total and local increase. In the first case, a proportional process is observed, and in the second, a certain part of the organ is affected. For example, the size of the tail can change, but the head and body remain in a normal state.
The main reasons due to which the pancreas in children can increase are:
- closed abdominal injuries;
- mucosal ulcer;
- the effect of toxins;
- abnormal gland development;
- autoimmune processes in the body;
- acute or chronic inflammation;
- cystic fibrosis;
- diseases of the duodenum.
A disproportionately enlarged pancreas in a child is observed in the following cases:
- benign or malignant tumors;
- replacement of some areas with connective tissue instead of glandular;
- cyst formation;
- suppuration of the gland and the occurrence of an abscess.
Symptoms
What happens when an enlarged pancreas is diagnosed in children? Symptoms of the pathology may have different. They are both pronounced and completely invisible. In this case, an additional examination is carried out.
With inflammation of the gland, brightly growing symptoms occur. Tumors and cystic formations begin to manifest themselves after a rather long time. All these cases are accompanied by the following symptoms:
- aching or baking pains of various intensities arising in the upper abdomen and extending to the arm or back;
- nausea, severe vomiting, bitterness in the mouth, belching, lack of appetite;
- diarrhea;
- sharp jumps in temperature.
An enlarged pancreas in a child is a rather dangerous phenomenon, regardless of the reasons that led to this. Other organs are located around it, which can cause their compression. For example, an enlarged head of the gland begins to put pressure on the duodenum. Also, cases were noted when the pathological organ contributed to the occurrence of intestinal obstruction.
Types of pancreatic diseases
Quite often, a violation of the development of this organ is associated with its shape, which can be in the form of a ring. Such an anomaly occurs even during the laying of the gland at the stage of embryogenesis. This does not bring any discomfort to the child and is eliminated with the help of an easy operation.
There are situations when? other than such a violation? problems arise with other internal organs. This combination can cause severe complications leading to death. If timely assistance was not provided to the child with this violation, then at an older age, the lumen of the duodenum begins to decrease, acute intestinal obstruction occurs, compression of the bile ducts occurs.
Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. In a child, this pathology is detected quite often. The disease is accompanied by weight loss, decreased appetite, severe pain, etc. In children, it is able to disguise itself as diseases such as dysbiosis and gastritis, this is its significant difference from pancreatitis in adults.
In addition, there are other diseases of the pancreas in children:
- cyst;
- lipomatosis;
- stones
- cancer of the body and tail.
Diagnostics
This disease is diagnosed on the basis of anamnesis and clinical symptoms, an assessment of the endocrine activity of the gland and the results of an instrumental study.
First, the doctor asks the sick child about the presence of various disorders. With complaints of pain, their nature and location are determined. The hereditary factor is also important when someone in the family suffers from diabetes and other metabolic diseases.
Upon examination, the doctor pays attention to the appearance of the patient, the color of the skin. Palpation of the organ is carried out when the patient is in a supine position. When a person is standing, the gland is practically not palpable due to the deep position behind the stomach and intestines.
To make a diagnosis, a study of feces is carried out, which in case of a malfunction of the pancreas will have a number of characteristic features: light color and putrefactive odor. During urine tests, gland enzymes can be detected. A blood test is also taken.
Pancreas Ultrasound
The anatomical structure of this organ is not very successful for examination, since it is located behind the stomach, in the upper abdomen. It is best to conduct an ultrasound of the child, in this case, you can evaluate the size of the organ and examine it from different angles.
To prepare for the study, the child must abandon fried and fatty foods, vegetables, fruits, milk. The last meal should be 12 hours before the procedure.
Ultrasound of the child is carried out in a supine position, on his back. If you want to examine any part of the organ, then the baby is allowed to turn on its side or stand up, gel is applied to the stomach, due to which the sliding of the sensor is greatly facilitated.
It is important to pay attention to the contours of the gland: they must be clear. The dimensions of the organ are correlated with the data from a special table. Its echogenicity in childhood may not be expressed. If this indicator is reduced, then the likelihood of having an acute form of pancreatitis is high, and an increase indicates a chronic course of this disease or the presence of a tumor.
Pancreatic treatment in children
Treatment of an organ can be conservative and operative, and it depends on the nature of the course of the disease. General principles of therapy are as follows:
- it is necessary to follow a strict diet, completely eliminating spicy, fatty or fried foods;
- to relieve swelling of the gland, it is recommended to apply cold heating pads to the body;
- to minimize the secretory activity of the body, special proton pump inhibitors, hormones or blockers of special histamine receptors are used;
- to adjust the gland, additionally introduce artificial food enzymes;
- with the help of surgical intervention, foci of inflammation or dead tissue are eliminated.
Drug treatment
An enlarged pancreas in a child requires drug therapy, which includes the use of the following drugs:
- "Octreotide" containing a hormonal substance - somatostatin, due to which the excessive secretion of pancreatic juice is stopped.
- “Pirenzepine” - reduces the secretion of gland enzymes, restoring organ cells.
- “Festal”, “Pancreatin”, “Mezim” - contain organ enzymes, helping him digest food and eliminate pain.
- "Duspatalin" - reduces inflammation in the tissues, helps stimulate the enzymes of the gland.
Treatment of the pancreas is also carried out with antibiotics, corticosteroids and drugs that accelerate the outflow of gland enzymes.
Diet
In addition to medicines, an effective method of treatment is compliance with a diet prescribed by a doctor, taking into account the age of the patient and the severity of the disease. At first it is recommended to eat grated food and drink a lot. Then it is necessary to include vegetables (potatoes, beets, carrots), products containing protein (omelet, low-fat cottage cheese, dietary meat of chicken or rabbit), vegetable oil in the diet.
Also, pancreatic treatment with a diet involves the use of rice, buckwheat, oatmeal, but sour soups and borscht are completely contraindicated.
Output
Thus, if an increase in the pancreas in a child is detected, it is necessary to begin treatment of this pathology as soon as possible. Only in this case a favorable outcome is guaranteed without the onset of very serious complications.