The changing incidence of acute pancreatitis in children: a single-institution perspective.

All cases of pancreatitis examined between 1993 and 1998 were reviewed to determine the etiologic factors and the number of cases per year. Although the incidence increased, the spectrum of etiologic factors did not differ greatly from those in previous series of pancreatitis in children. Pancreatitis in infants was associated with multisystem illness. Idiopathic pancreatitis was uncommon in children younger than 6 years of age and not observed in children younger than 3 years of age.