Gurugram: Hospitals across Gurugram are reporting a gradual rise in pancreatitis among children, a condition traditionally associated with adults. Doctors say the increase has been observed over the past two to three years and reflects a mix of lifestyle changes, metabolic disorders, and improved diagnosis.
At Fortis Memorial Research Institute, doctors have reported nearly 200 cases of chronic pancreatitis among children over the last two years. At Medanta – The Medicity, around 114 children have been treated for pancreatitis, including two deaths, according to hospital data.
“Pancreatitis in children is increasing mainly due to rising childhood obesity, high triglycerides, gallstones, drugs, and better diagnosis,” said Dr. Neelam Mohan, senior director and head of paediatric gastroenterology at Medanta, told HT on Thursday. She added that environmental factors are also contributing to the trend and stressed that it is very important to eat a diet and to find out if children have problems with their lipids early on.
Doctors say that pancreatitis in children is not like pancreatitis in adults. In adults, the main causes are drinking a lot of alcohol and smoking. In children, there are things that can cause pancreatitis. These include being overweight, having much fat in the blood, gallstones, infections, injuries to the abdomen, certain medicines, genetic conditions, and problems with the shape of the pancreas. Doctors are also seeing cases where children have infections or where they cannot find any reason for the pancreatitis.
To be sure, the pancreas is a gland behind the stomach that helps with digestion and blood sugar. Pancreatitis refers to a condition in which the organ is inflamed because the enzymes that help with digestion are activated inside the pancreas and damage the organ. People with pancreatitis usually have bad pain in the upper part of their abdomen that can spread to their back, feel sick to their stomach, and vomit a lot.
At Marengo Asia Hospitals, doctors have seen an increase in cases, especially among teenagers. Dr. Punit Singla, Program Clinical Director at the Institute of Liver Transplant & HPB Surgery, said that they used to see a few cases, but now they are seeing many more. He thinks that better awareness and diagnostic practices have also contributed to this increase.
Doctors say that better testing has helped them find cases. They can do blood tests to check for enzymes and use imaging to get a better picture. Earlier, many children with abdominal pain were treated for other conditions like gastritis.
At Paras Health, doctors reported 8 to 12 cases annually and noted a gradual increase.
Doctors said the severity of the disease varies. Most children recover with timely treatment, but some develop complications such as necrosis or organ dysfunction and may require intensive care. About 20 to 25 percent of children with acute pancreatitis may develop recurrent or chronic disease.
Experts said prevention depends on addressing modifiable risk factors. These include maintaining a balanced diet, reducing intake of processed food, encouraging physical activity, and managing weight. Early diagnosis and timely treatment remain critical.