Pancreatitis in young children with cystic fibrosis.

Five young children with cystic fibrosis and abdominal pain were found to have pancreatitis. Diagnosis was delayed in four patients because of the belief that pancreatitis occurs only in older patients with cystic fibrosis. In one patient pancreatitis was diagnosed before cystic fibrosis and diagnosis of cystic fibrosis was delayed. Pancreatitis should be considered as a possible cause of abdominal pain in pancreatic-sufficient children with cystic fibrosis and cystic fibrosis should be considered as a possible cause of pancreatitis, even in the young child.