Why is the pancreas enlarged in a child? The causes of this pathological condition will be presented below. We will also look at the symptoms of this disease and its treatment methods.
Basic information
The pancreas in children and adults is the most important organ of the digestive system, which is located deep inside the abdominal cavity.
According to experts, the pancreas consists of several types of tissues and, due to the peculiarities of the anatomical location, is characterized by rather difficult access. Therefore, it is impossible to diagnose inflammation of this organ by palpation. At the same time, it is possible to detect the presence of any problems with it only based on the results of an ultrasound scan or magnetic resonance imaging.
False alarm
It should be especially noted that if the pancreas is enlarged in a child, then this does not always indicate a serious pathology. The fact is that this organ has separate sections (for example, the tail, body or head), the dimensions of which can be non-standard due to the peculiar reaction or features of a particular organism, including with a congenital anomaly, which does not pose a threat to life the patient.
It should also be noted that sometimes an erroneous diagnosis of such a pathological condition as an increase in the size of the body of the pancreas or its tail is possible. To make a more accurate diagnosis, one should undergo not only a laboratory examination, but also an instrumental one.
Enhanced pancreas of a child: causes
Treatment of this abnormal phenomenon should be carried out only after consulting a doctor. Identification of the causes of this pathology is also required.
Modern medicine knows 2 types of enlargement of the organ in question:
The first type is characterized by a proportional process, and in the second - an increase in any one section of the internal organ is observed.
So why is the pancreas enlarged in a child? The reasons for this are manifold. However, the most common of them include:
- mucosal ulcer;
- closed types of injuries of organs located in the abdominal cavity;
- a consequence of exposure to various toxins;
- autoimmune processes ;
- acute or chronic inflammation;
- cystic fibrosis;
- diseases of the duodenum;
- abnormal development of the pancreas.
Reasons for the disproportionate increase
An increase in the head of the pancreas, its body or tail can also be caused by completely different reasons. As a rule, they include the following:
- the occurrence of a true or false cyst;
- tumors of various origin (may be benign or malignant);
- the development of an abscess and suppuration of the pancreas;
- replacement of some sections of glandular connective tissue;
- blockage of the Wirsung ducts.
Why is the pancreas enlarged in a child?
Experts say that childhood problems associated with pancreatic enlargement are similar to those that afflict adults. At the same time, babies at any age must be examined for an increase in this organ. This is due to the fact that over time and in the process of growing up a child, he is able to grow several times. However, such an increase is not always proportional and safe.
It often happens that the growth of the pancreatic gland does not correspond to generally accepted graphs and tables, but it is proportional to all other surrounding organs.
It cannot be said that pancreatic disorders are detected for the first time precisely in early childhood. In this case, you should consult a pediatrician who will prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Main symptoms
How to treat and how is inflammation of the pancreas manifested ? Symptoms and treatment of this pathological condition depend on the causes of its occurrence.
Regardless of the sex and age of a person, diseases of this organ can occur in different ways. Very often, such pathological conditions are acute. But sometimes the symptoms are hidden, which involves a series of additional studies.
How is pancreatic inflammation manifested? Symptoms and treatment of this ailment should be identified and prescribed only by a doctor. Such a pathology is characterized by bright and growing symptoms.
With cystic neoplasms and various tumors, symptoms may appear after some time. In such cases, it is possible to correctly and quickly make a diagnosis only by observing several specific symptoms, which include the following:
- repeated vomiting, an unpleasant sensation of bitterness in the mouth, nausea, a complete lack of appetite, belching;
- pain (baking, aching) of varying degrees, which can be localized at the top of the abdominal cavity and give to the back or arm;
- problems with stool, manifested by diarrhea without any impurities;
- jumps in body temperature.
Complications
What complications can arise if the tail of the pancreas is enlarged in a child or other parts of this organ? This pathological condition is quite dangerous, regardless of what reasons caused them. What is the reason for this? The fact is that there are other organs around the pancreas, which can easily lead to their compression. This is especially true of the head of the gland, since it is its large size that can exert strong pressure on the 12 duodenal ulcer of a small child.
There have been cases when, with such organ enlargements, the patient developed intestinal obstruction.
Diagnostic Methods
As mentioned above, the pancreatic ducts and the organ itself are located deep in the abdominal cavity. Therefore, with a slight inflammatory process or any other pathologies, it is not possible to identify the presence of a disease by feeling the patient. The only exceptions are those cases when the pancreas has become so large that it is determined even with ordinary palpation.
In connection with all of the above, we can safely conclude that problems with this organ are often diagnosed on the basis of the developed symptoms that were described in this article. But what if the clinical signs of the disease are completely absent? In this case, doctors recommend resorting to instrumental research methods. These include ultrasound and MRI.
Despite the high cost of such methods, they allow you to immediately determine whether there is indeed an increase in the pancreas, as well as the causes of such a pathological condition.
How to treat?
How can such a pathology be treated if the child is a month old? The pancreas is enlarged - you should immediately contact a pediatrician. After all, only an experienced doctor will be able to determine the true cause of the development of such a pathological process, as well as identify its threat to a small organism.
It should be noted that each individual case of pancreatic enlargement in infants provides for its individual treatment. According to experts, such therapy can be conservative and prompt.
If we talk about the general principles of treatment, then they come down to the following scheme:
- Reducing swelling of the pancreas by applying cold compresses to the affected area.
- Mandatory adherence to a strict diet, which provides for the complete exclusion of spicy, oily, as well as fried foods. Also, many experts strongly recommend that you refrain from eating at least a few days. In some cases, doctors even inject nutrients into the patient's body by injection (the so-called parenteral nutrition).
- The maximum decrease in the activity (secretory) of the organ in question by taking special hormones, proton pump inhibitors or histamine receptor blockers.
- Surgical intervention that is performed to eliminate dead tissue or inflammation.
- The additional introduction of artificial digestive enzymes in order to adjust the functioning of the internal organ.
Dieting
Treatment of children with large sizes of the pancreas without normal and proper nutrition is impossible. As a rule, with such a pathology, the doctor prescribes a special diet No. 5 for the child. It provides for the rejection of fatty foods and other fatty components. In exchange, the patient should include protein foods in his diet that have a beneficial effect on his body.
It should also be noted that diet No. 5 implies a complete rejection of products such as:
- any types of juices, including fresh ones;
- sweets in the form of ice cream, chocolate or jam;
- fruits and vegetables in their natural state (i.e. not thermally processed);
- dairy products with high fat content (cream, sour cream, whole milk);
- fatty broths, decoctions, as well as various dishes cooked on their basis.
Instead of the listed products, the baby is better to offer:
- steamed or stewed vegetables;
- boiled and stewed meats and dishes that were made on their basis;
- black tea with a little sugar;
- dairy products with a small percentage of fat content;
- baked fruits, as well as desserts based on them;
- any kind of porridge cooked in plain water;
- crackers, dried bread, biscuit cookies.
Other treatments
It should be specially noted that there are cases when it is not advisable to use only one diet, and it is also ineffective for different groups of children (for example, with neoplastic processes in the child’s body). With this diagnosis, no nutrition, nor a strict diet will affect the rate of tumor growth in the pancreas. The only way to treat this disease is to remove the affected area surgically.
With the development of acute pancreatitis, the diet also turns out to be powerless. That is why with such diseases it is very important to consult a pediatrician in time, and not engage in self-medication, which, by the way, can quite easily lead to disastrous consequences.