Why Does My Child Have Pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis in children is rare but when I see this as a search term used by some parent, who I know is hurting, maybe even thinking it is their fault that their child has Pancreatitis, it breaks my heart.

Pancreatitis in children is rare but shit happens and ...

There are only TWO reasons I could ever see as a possible reason for a parent to feel it may be their fault that their child has Pancreatitis and that would be because of

1) Abdominal trauma due to a deliberate beating of the child resulting in severe abdominal trauma.

2) You were drunk (driving drunk or drugged) and created an accident that damaged your child.

Otherwise ...

A parent should never blame themselves.

Shit happens.

So let me address the question "Why does my child have pancreatitis?"

1) Trauma to the pancreas is a known cause in children. I myself was injured playing football. My folks, especially my mom, blamed themselves for my pancreatitis and that just isn't right. They were no more to blame than God. In fact, IF there is anyone who deserves blame it is me because I made a bad mistake. I didn't keep my head and body as low as I should have, which resulted in that abdominal injury.

2) Hereditary pancreatitis caused by a genetic predisopsition to cystic fibrosis or an autoimmune disease, hyperlipidemia or hypertriglyceridemia (high blood fats) are known or potential causes of childhood pancreatitis but ...

Even though the suspected causes in #2 are mainly hereditary that does NOT mean either parent is to blame. They could no more predict their childs illness or the possibility of pancreatitis due to their upline gene pool that I can jump over the moon.

Hell, most doctors can't even diagnose pancreatitis or know what causes it (most think it's only alcoholics that get pancreatitis) so why on earth would a parent feel responsible?

3) Medications. Some medications such as antibiotics and medications used for diabetes cause pancreatitis. It is interesting to note that one class of drugs most associated with Pancreatitis are opioids (morphine, etc...) yet docotrs prescribe them for pancreatitis pain instead of using anti-inflammatories such as Ibuprofen to reduce and eliminate the inflammation which is the direct cause of the pancreatitis pain and resulting injury to the pancreas.

4) Infections such as Mumps. If your child get mumps they amy also get Pancreatitis.

5) Abnormalities of the pancreas or intestine can cause Pancreatitis.

6) Idiopathic pancreatitis. There are many cases with no known or suspected cause. 15% of Acute Pancreatitis and up to 40% of Chronic Pancreatitis cases have no definite cause.

If your child has Pancreatitis I know you hurt, every time you see your child in agony it is tearing at your guts. The only thing I can suggest is to find a way to help them.

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Overcoming Pancreatitis Pain in Children

Nothing is more difficult for a parent than to watch their child suffer in agony and so I'll tell you what I would do if it were my child in pain due to pancreatitis.

Since we both know that pancreatitis can turn ugly fast it would be a good thing to move quickly and resolve that flare or acute attack.

This is only what I would do.

You have to do what you think is best.

If it were my child in pain I'd give the regimen I use to stop the pain a try with some revisions.

1) Since young children should not be given aspirin I'd check with my doc to find out how much Ibuprofen (motrin, advil) I could safely give my child based on age and weight.

I might also check with a pharmacist to verify.

If I were to check out the link to Ibuprofen and scroll down to over dose I'd see the amount necessary to cause problems in humans.

Problems can arise at 100mgs/kg so adjust accordingly.

1 kilogram = 2.20462262 pounds.

You can get liquid flavored Ibuprofen as Ibuprofen or Advil for kids at the drug store (Walgreens etc ...).

2) Grapeseed extract comes in capsules that most likely are difficult for young children to swallow so I'd want to break one open and add it to a clear juice, like maybe apple juice and have my child drink it fron a sippy cup. Now the dosage is another challenge and I would guess using the ONE milligram per pound of body weight guidline for optimum saturation a 10 pound child would only need 10 - 15 milligrams.

The problem lies in finding 10 or 15 milligram capsules. One way is to break open the capsule and guess at 10-15 mgs. I sincerely doubt more would harm them.

I thought liquid grapeseed extract might work better so I may try to locate some liquid grapeseed extract, not oil, just liquid grape seed extract and make sure it isn't combined with or "tinctured" with alcohol or anything such as vinilla extract (contains alcohol) for flavor enhancement.

3) Curcumin. I'd also see if there were some 100mg curcumin capsules available. That way you could break one open and give it mixed in some juice with the grape seed extract. The only liquid curcumin I found was mixed with alcohol and vinilla extract - BOTH - are big NO-NO's so that may not be a possible option. I may have to use 500mg caps and wing it by breaking one open and splitting it into 5 somewhat equal shares (using a blade of some sort and a small mirror to create the eqaul shares).

I would imagine that the grape seed extract and curcumin is going to taste pretty foul so chances are my child is gonna hate the stuff which may be the biggest challenge of all and that's why disguising it in some way (juice) may be a marginal solution.

If my child is old enough to swallow capsules easily that solves the problem of taste (looking over shoulder to see if my kid is old enough) but either way it is, in my opinion, essential to stop the pain and inflammation as quickly as possible to avoid more pancreatic damage.

IF the pain and nausea doesn't completely resolve within 60-90 minutes after giving him or her the cocktail then it's off to the ER we go! Time is tissue. Save the tissue.

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Liquid Grapeseed Extract - This May Be The Ticket For ...

Instead of using grapseed powder and having to purchase a scale I did a little more checking and found there is now LIQUID grapseed extract. That sure solves the problems of measuring and all that crap if you are thinking of using my regimen on your child or someone who has difficulty swallowing capsules.

Liquid grape seed extract

Be advised I have NEVER used liquid grapeseed extract before nor have I used grapeseed extarct powder, over course I imagine that is what is found in capsules. Anyway I have only used grapesed in capsule form so I can not tell you whether the liquid works as well or better.

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Using My Pancreatitis Pain Regemin on Children

If it were my child with pancreatitis pain I'd use the regemin I use myself to stop the pain a try with some revisions.

1) You are not suppose to give young children aspirin so I'd check with my doc to find out how much Ibuprofen (motrin, advil) I could safely give him or her based on age and weight.

You might also check with a pharmacist to verify.

If you check out the link to Ibuprofen and scroll down to over dose you'll see the amount necessary to cause problems in humans.

Problems can arise at 100mgs/kg so adjust accordingly.

1 kilogram = 2.20462262 pounds.

2) Grape seed extract comes in capsules that most likely are difficult for young children to swallow so you'd want to break one open and add it to a clear juice, like maybe apple juice and have them drink it fron a sippy cup.

Now the dosage is another challenge and I would guess using the ONE milligram per pound of body weight guidline for optimum saturation a 10 pound child would only need 10 - 15 milligrams.

The problem lies in finding 10 or 15 milligram capsules.

Grape seed extract in powder form seems to be a viable solution however using something to weigh out the powder may be a challenge because normal cooking measuring spoons won't work.

3) Curcumin. Now for the last potential enigma - curcumin. There is a lot more research material available on curcumin than is able to be found on grapeseed, however, I was on grapeseed BEFOE curcumin and know it works.

The addition of curcumin simply added more re-inforcement.

From what I can find there isn't any toxcity associated with curcumin but I'd still cut the dosage down to at least half of what I personally consume and see what happens.

There would be nothing wrong with starting even lower say at 50 to 100 milligrams. You can always increase it in 50 milligram increments until your child finds relief.

I've never tried grapseed extract or curcumin without it being in a capsule. Turmeric I use a lot in my food and large amounts are not to palatable. A little tastes good but a lot is putrid so your child is NOT going to like the taste, so be patient. But, if it stops the pain for them the concoction may bring on a whole new flavor.

I haven't covered vitamin C because vitamin C is non toxic up to 10 grams. I know that to be absolutely true because I have consumed 10 grams (10,000mgs) per day for up to 30 days and I am still alive. High doses can cause diarrhea in some people.

Here's a list of Pancreatitis supplements

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