Enlarged pancreas in a child: causes, diagnosis, treatment

The child's body is quite vulnerable to various diseases. After birth, the baby's organs begin to develop intensively, and immunity is strengthened. But sometimes the body fails - there are pathological changes in various organs, including the pancreas. If it is increased above the average, this is already a cause for concern.

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 department that is located behind the stomach, but between them is a glandular bag;
• The tail is the back of the organ, which rests against the spleen.

The structure of the gland is represented by shares with a secret in them. Between them are nerve endings and blood vessels. Through the entire length of the organ passes the duct, which is used to receive digestive secretions. Important functions of the gland are the secretion of gastric juice and 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.

Dimensions

The normal size of the pancreas in a child depends mainly on his age. The newborn has an organ length of 5 cm or slightly larger. 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 gland of a year-old child reaches a length of 7 cm, and the head diameter is one centimeter.

During the life of iron gradually increases in size. For 10 years, its growth is very slow, increasing during this time by 2 times. The enlarged pancreas in a child can be observed during puberty, when it sharply grows by 8 cm. By the age of 18, this organ usually reaches the standard dimensions, reaching a length of 23 cm, a width of 3 cm. Its circumference is 7 cm.

Examining the child, the doctor uses a special table to find out whether there are abnormalities of the gland from the norm. For this purpose, indicators such as weight, height, gender and age are taken into account. Depending on this, the norms of pancreatic size in a child should be as follows:

• Body - 1-1,3 cm;
• The head is 1.5-2.1 mm;
• Tail - 1,7-2,4 mm.

The size of the body and its appearance can indicate a variety of diseases.

Why is it necessary to examine children?

Children's problems associated with the increase of this body, in many ways similar to those that affect adults. Children of any age should be carefully examined in order to detect such a pathology in time. This is explained by the fact that the iron can grow several times, but not always in proportion.

It often happens that the growth of an organ does not always correspond to the accepted norms, but in relation to other organs it will be proportional. In this case, it is during childhood that congenital malformations of the pancreas and its increase are diagnosed for the first time.

The main causes of enlargement

The pancreas can have a total and a local increase. In the first case, a proportional process is observed, and in the second case a certain part of the organ is affected. For example, the tail can change in size, and the head and body remain in a normal state.

The main reasons for which the pancreas in children may increase are:

• Closed injuries of the abdominal cavity;
• Ulcer of the mucosa;
• The effect of toxins;
• Abnormal development of the gland;
• Autoimmune processes in the body;
• Acute or chronic inflammation;
• Cystic fibrosis;
• Diseases of the duodenum.

Disproportionately increased pancreas in a child is observed in the following cases:

• Benign or malignant tumors;
• Replacement of some sites with connective tissue instead of glandular;
• Cyst formation;
• Suppuration of the gland and the appearance of an abscess.

Symptoms

What happens when an enlarged pancreas is diagnosed in children? Symptoms of pathology can be different. They are both pronounced, and completely invisible. In this case, an additional examination is carried out.

With inflammation of the gland there is a brightly growing symptomatology. 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 pain of varying intensity, arising at the top of the abdomen and giving back to the hand or back;
• Nausea, severe vomiting, bitter taste in the mouth, eructation, lack of appetite;
• diarrhea;
• Sudden temperature changes.

The enlarged pancreas in a child is a rather dangerous phenomenon, regardless of the reasons that led to it. There are other organs around it that can cause their compression. For example, the enlarged gland head begins to press on the 12-colon. There are also cases when the pathological organ promoted the appearance of intestinal obstruction.

Types of pancreatic disease

Quite often the developmental disorder of this organ is related to its form, which can be in the form of a ring. This anomaly arises even during the laying of the gland at the stage of embryogenesis. It does not bring any discomfort to the child and is eliminated by an easy operation.

Are there such situations when? Except for such a violation? There are problems with other internal organs. This combination can cause severe complications leading to death. If in this violation the child was not provided with timely assistance, then at an older age the lumen of the duodenum begins to decrease, acute intestinal obstruction arises, and the bile ducts are squeezed.

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. This pathology is often detected in a child. The disease is accompanied by weight loss, loss of appetite, severe pain, etc. In children, it is able to mask for diseases such as dysbiosis and gastritis, in this it is a significant difference from pancreatitis in adults.

In addition, there are other pancreatic diseases in children:

• cyst;
• Lipomatosis;
• Stones;
• Cancer of the body and tail.

Diagnostics

This disease is diagnosed on the basis of data of anamnesis and clinical symptoms, evaluation of endocrine gland activity and results of instrumental research.

First, the doctor asks the sick child about the presence of various disorders. When complaints of pain are determined by their nature and location. Also important is the hereditary factor, when in the family someone 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 performed when the patient is lying down. When a person is standing, the gland is practically not probed because of the deep position behind the stomach and intestines.

To diagnose, a study of feces that in the case of disruption of the pancreas will have a number of characteristic features: light color and putrefactive odor. During the study of urine, it is possible to detect enzymes of the gland. Also a blood test is taken.

Ultrasound examination of the pancreas

The anatomical structure of this organ is not very successful for examination, since it is located behind the stomach, in the upper part of the abdomen. It is best to conduct an ultrasound to a child, in this case, you can estimate the size of the organ and examine it from different angles.

To prepare for the study, the child must give up fried and fatty foods, vegetables, fruits, milk. The last reception of products should be 12 hours before the procedure.

The child is held in a supine position on the back. If you want to inspect any part of the body, the baby is allowed to turn on his side or stand up, the gel is applied to his stomach, due to which the sliding of the sensor is much easier.

It is important to pay attention to the contours of the gland: they must be clear. The dimensions of the body are correlated with the data from the special table. Echogenicity of it in childhood can not be expressed. If this indicator is lowered, then there is a high probability of having an acute form of pancreatitis, and an increase indicates a chronic course of the disease or the presence of a tumor.

Treatment of pancreas in children

Treatment of the organ can be conservative and operative, but it depends on the nature of the course of the disease. The general principles of therapy are as follows:

• It is necessary to observe the strictest diet, completely eliminating spicy, fatty or fried foods;
• To remove swelling of the gland, it is recommended to apply cold warmers to the body;
• To minimize the secretory activity of the body use special inhibitors of the proton pump, hormones or blockers of special histamine receptors;
• To correct the work of the gland, additionally introduce artificial food enzymes;
• With the help of surgery, foci of inflammation or dead tissue are eliminated.

Medication

An enlarged pancreas in a child requires medical therapy, which includes the use of the following medicines:

• "Octreotide", containing a hormonal substance - somatostatin, due to which the excessive secretion of pancreatic juice stops.
• "Pirenzepin" - reduces the secretion of enzymes of the gland, restoring the cells of the organ.
• "Festal", "Pancreatin", "Mezim" - have in their composition enzymes of the body, helping him to digest food and eliminate pain.
• "Duspatalin" - reduces inflammation in the tissues, promotes stimulation of the enzymes of the gland.

Treatment of the pancreas is also performed by antibiotics, corticosteroids and drugs that accelerate the outflow of enzymes of the gland.

Diet

In addition to medicines, an effective method of treatment is considered to be compliance with the diet, which is prescribed by the doctor, taking into account the age of the patient and the severity of the disease. At first it is recommended to eat the frayed food and drink a lot. Then you need to include in the diet vegetables (potatoes, beets, carrots), foods containing protein (omelet, low-fat cottage cheese, dietary chicken or rabbit meat), vegetable oil.

Also, the treatment of the pancreas with the help of diet provides for the consumption of rice, buckwheat, oatmeal, but sour soups and borscht are absolutely contraindicated.

Conclusion

Thus, if an increase in the pancreas in a child is found, it is necessary to start treating this pathology as soon as possible. Only in this case is a favorable outcome guaranteed without the onset of very serious complications.