The Journal of the South Carolina Medical Association
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Acute pancreatitis should be considered in all children presenting with acute abdominal complaints. A complete history should be obtained with emphasis on recent trauma, infections, current medications, and the presence of any systemic diseases. Simple laboratory studies and non-invasive imaging techniques can usually confirm the clinical suspicion. Most cases of interstitial pancreatitis resolve uneventfully but hemorrhagic pancreatitis carries a significant mortality risk.