Introduction:

There are no evidence-based diagnostic guidelines for pancreatitis in pediatric age. The severity of acute pancreatitis is defined by laboratory data, involvement of surrounding tissues, in addition to local complications such as pancreatic necrosis, abscess and pseudocyst. Severe pancreatitis occurs in 15 to 20% of all cases.

Objective:

To describe the case of a pediatric patient who was hospitalized for necrotizing pancreatitis and to update on the approach to this condition.

Case presentation:

11-year-old female patient with no pathological history, who was hospitalized due to pancreatitis with unusual evolution with hyperglycemia, dyspnea, atelectasis, bilateral pleural effusion, ascites and pancreatic necrosis. She favorably responded to the established medical treatment.

Conclusions:

Acute pancreatitis is generally a clinical entity with a favorable prognosis ; sometimes complications may appear, so it is essential, beyond its suspicion and diagnostic confirmation, to initiate a rapid treatment with aggressive fluid therapy, pain treatment, early enteral feeding, and according to current knowledge, antibiotic therapy if necessary with the aim of minimizing the appearance of undesirable consequences. The surgical approach is a rare procedure at present.

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