BACKGROUND: Pancreatitis is uncommon in childhood and there is presently no study among Filipino children.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical features and outcome of pancreatitis among Filipino children.

METHOD: Review of medical records of all patients diagnosed to have pancreatitis based on standard criteria from 2005 to 2009.

RESULTS: A total of 23 children (mean age: 12 years; 13 male, 10 female) were included, 21 with acute and two with chronic pancreatitis. Twenty one (91%) presented with abdominal pain and two with jaundice. Nine had idiopathic pancreatitis. In 14 patients, the etiology was identified: bile duct obstruction (7), trauma (2), drugs (2), infection (2) and hypertriglyceridemia (1). Only four of 20 patients with ultrasound examination showed an enlarged pancreas. Complications were pseudocyst formation (6), pancreatic abscess (4), diabetes mellitus (2) and hypocalcemia (1). Of the 23 patients, eight required surgery: pancreatic debridement (4), choledochal cyst excision (2), cholecystectomy (1) and Whipple's procedure (1). All pseudocyst resolved spontaneously. One patient with pancreatic tumor declined surgery and another with pancreatitis due to choledochal cyst died of sepsis.

CONCLUSIONS: In our study, severe abdominal pain was the most frequent presenting symptom of childhood pancreatitis. Sixty percent had an identifiable cause for pancreatitis. A favorable outcome was observed.