# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Skip to Main Content

Overview

Blunt trauma like motor vehicle crashes, falls, bicycle crashes and violence causes most of the pancreatic injuries seen in young children.

In older children, a pancreatic injury may happen from a gunshot wound or knife wound that tears and cuts the organ. These types of injuries are known as penetrating injuries.

The pancreas is not well protected in children due to their thin abdominal walls and underdeveloped muscles, so they are more likely than an adult to have a pancreas injury.

The pancreas is found behind the stomach and is divided into three parts: the head, body and tail.

The part of the pancreas lying over the spine is most likely to be injured. Because the pancreas is located close to many other abdominal organs, when the pancreas is injured the physician needs to check for other abdominal injuries as well.

The pancreas is a vital organ, performing functions necessary in the digestion process. The pancreas makes glucagon, insulin and digestive enzymes.

Signs & symptoms

A child with a pancreatic injury will usually have belly pain. Nausea and vomiting are also common. A child may have bruising such as a handlebar mark on the abdomen or he / she may not have any marks at all.

If injury is suspected, your child will be given a physical examination. X-rays, CAT scan (a more detailed picture than an X-ray), or blood tests may be administered to help find out how badly your child's pancreas is injured.

Treatment

Small pancreatic injuries are usually treated without surgery. A child with a minor injury to the pancreas will go to the general floor unit for a few days of bed rest.

If a child's pancreas is badly injured, surgery may be needed to fix the damage and stop the bleeding. Staples or stitches will be placed if surgery is needed. The child may be given extra blood before or after surgery.

Following surgery, your child will not be allowed to eat right away. However, he or she will be given an IV (a small tube in their vein) for fluids. For a few days after surgery, the Intensive Care Unit team will watch your child closely for any bleeding, pain or infection.

The child is then transferred to the general floor unit as healing continues. The amount of bed rest will decrease and the child's activity level will increase gradually as the injury heals. Keep in mind that each child's healing process is different.

After discharge

After you leave the hospital, your child will need to be watched for any problems.

Complications do not happen very often but you should know warning signs and symptoms. You will need to call your doctor right away if your child has any nausea or vomiting, fever greater than 100.5 degrees, or belly pain.

Medications

Speak to your health care provider about medications your child has previously taken. Your child may have some pain or soreness at home. If this is the case, you may give your child acetaminophen (also known as Tylenol).

Your child's doctor may even give you a prescription for pain medication. Give your child the prescription if the pain does not go away one hour after giving acetaminophen. Follow the directions on the bottle.

However, do not give your child ibuprofen (also known as Motrin, Advil, Aleve, etc.) until the doctor says that it is OK.

Wound and skin care

Your child may shower or take a bath, but may need help for several days after going home. Check with your doctor about taking baths if your child has had surgery.

If your child has cuts or scrapes on the skin from other injuries, wash the areas with warm, soapy water and pat them dry. If your child has stitches, follow the specific instructions on caring for them.

Emotional recovery

After the injury, your child may be tired and irritable. It takes time to heal. Use this time for rest and quiet activities. Tell your child that he / she will feel better soon. Have your child play board games, read, or do small craft projects for short periods of time.

Infants and toddlers are more difficult to distract and will be more difficult to confine. Try putting your infant or toddler in a large crib or playpen. Ask family and friends to visit for only short periods of time and not at the same time to minimize activity.

Preventive actions

It is very important to teach your child about all types of safety. Your child watches you, so you should also always use proper safety precautions. Your child should learn to wear a helmet when riding a bike, in-line skating or skate boarding.

You should also teach your child to always wear a seatbelt when riding in a car. Remember that children 12 years old and younger should always use correct safety restraints in the back seat when the car has a passenger side airbag.

Follow-up care

All children with pancreatic injuries receive follow-up care by the trauma clinic after they leave the hospital. Your nurse will make an appointment before you leave or give you a number to call to make the appointment.

Nutrition

Following the injury, your child may not feel like eating regular foods right away, but it is important that he or she eat a balanced diet and drink as much fluid as before the injury.

Activity after pancreatic injury

Plan quiet activities for your child for the first several days at home. He or she does not need to stay in bed, but walking and playing quietly is fine.

Your child should not play rough with family, friends, or pets. He or she should not participate in any activities or sports that involve jumping, climbing, or running such as bike riding, in-line skating, dance, gymnastics, football, basketball, soccer or track.

Activities like gym class and contact sports are not allowed for some time after leaving the hospital. This will depend on how badly the pancreas was injured.

Your child can go back to day care or school usually one to two weeks following the injury. Your nurse or doctor will help you decide when it is time to send your child back to school.

If surgery was needed or your child has other injuries, he or she may be advised to stay out of school longer. The trauma team will help you with your child returning to school.

UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals medical specialists have reviewed this information. It is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your child's doctor or other health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your child's provider.

Where to get care (2)

747 52nd St.
Oakland, CA 94609

2

Concussion Guide

If your child experiences a concussion, at-home care is important. Learn what to watch for and what to do if your child's symptoms get worse.

Liver Injuries & Home Care

After surgery for a liver injury, your child needs special care while recovering at home. Find out more about what you can do and what to expect.

Awards & recognition

Ranked among the nation's best in 11 specialties

Feeling at home

From bedside bingo to therapy dogs, we're here to help kids smile and feel more like themselves.

Visit Child Life services

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Pancreas injuries can result from accidents involving a blow or a penetrating injury, such as a sharp object. Symptoms may include pain and bleeding. Find out more.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Overview

Anemia is a condition in which you lack enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your body's tissues. Having anemia, also referred to as low hemoglobin, can make you feel tired and weak.

There are many forms of anemia, each with its own cause. Anemia can be temporary or long term and can range from mild to severe. In most cases, anemia has more than one cause. See your doctor if you suspect that you have anemia. It can be a warning sign of serious illness.

Treatments for anemia, which depend on the cause, range from taking supplements to having medical procedures. You might be able to prevent some types of anemia by eating a healthy, varied diet.

Types

Symptoms

Anemia signs and symptoms vary depending on the cause and severity of anemia. Depending on the causes of your anemia, you might have no symptoms.

Signs and symptoms, if they do occur, might include:

Fatigue

Weakness

Pale or yellowish skin

Irregular heartbeats

Shortness of breath

Dizziness or lightheadedness

Chest pain

Cold hands and feet

Headaches

At first, anemia can be so mild that you don't notice it. But symptoms worsen as anemia worsens.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with your doctor if you feel fatigued and you don't know why.

Fatigue has many causes besides anemia, so don't assume that if you're tired you must be anemic. Some people learn that their hemoglobin is low, which indicates anemia, when they donate blood. If you're told that you can't donate because of low hemoglobin, make an appointment with your doctor.

Causes

Anemia can be due to a condition present at birth (congenital) or to a condition you develop (acquired). Anemia occurs when your blood doesn't have enough red blood cells.

This can happen if:

Your body doesn't make enough red blood cells

Bleeding causes you to lose red blood cells more quickly than they can be replaced

Your body destroys red blood cells

What red blood cells do

Your body makes three types of blood cells - white blood cells to fight infection, platelets to help your blood clot, and red blood cells to carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body and carbon dioxide from the body back to the lungs.

Red blood cells contain hemoglobin - an iron-rich protein that gives blood its red color. Hemoglobin enables red blood cells to carry oxygen from your lungs to all parts of your body and to carry carbon dioxide from other parts of the body to your lungs to be exhaled.

Most blood cells, including red blood cells, are produced regularly in your bone marrow - a spongy material found within the cavities of many of your large bones. To produce hemoglobin and red blood cells, your body needs iron, vitamin B-12, folate and other nutrients from the foods you eat.

Causes of anemia

Different types of anemia have different causes. They include:

Iron deficiency anemia. This most common type of anemia is caused by a shortage of iron in your body. Your bone marrow needs iron to make hemoglobin. Without adequate iron, your body can't produce enough hemoglobin for red blood cells.

Without iron supplementation, this type of anemia occurs in many pregnant women. It's also caused by blood loss, such as from heavy menstrual bleeding; an ulcer in the stomach or small bowel; cancer of the large bowel; and regular use of some pain relievers that are available without a prescription, especially aspirin, which can cause inflammation of the stomach lining resulting in blood loss. It's important to determine the source of iron deficiency to prevent recurrence of the anemia.

Vitamin deficiency anemia. Besides iron, your body needs folate and vitamin B-12 to produce enough healthy red blood cells. A diet lacking in these and other key nutrients can cause decreased red blood cell production. Some people who consume enough B-12 aren't able to absorb the vitamin. This can lead to vitamin deficiency anemia, also known as pernicious anemia.

Anemia of inflammation. Certain diseases - such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, kidney disease, Crohn's disease and other acute or chronic inflammatory diseases - can interfere with the production of red blood cells.

Aplastic anemia. This rare, life-threatening anemia occurs when your body doesn't produce enough red blood cells. Causes of aplastic anemia include infections, certain medicines, autoimmune diseases and exposure to toxic chemicals.

Anemias associated with bone marrow disease. A variety of diseases, such as leukemia and myelofibrosis, can cause anemia by affecting blood production in your bone marrow. The effects of these types of cancer and cancer-like disorders vary from mild to life-threatening.

Hemolytic anemias. This group of anemias develops when red blood cells are destroyed faster than bone marrow can replace them. Certain blood diseases increase red blood cell destruction. You can inherit a hemolytic anemia, or you can develop it later in life.

Sickle cell anemia. This inherited and sometimes serious condition is a hemolytic anemia. It's caused by a defective form of hemoglobin that forces red blood cells to assume an abnormal crescent (sickle) shape. These irregular blood cells die prematurely, resulting in a chronic shortage of red blood cells.

Risk factors

These factors place you at increased risk of anemia:

A diet lacking in certain vitamins and minerals. A diet consistently low in iron, vitamin B-12, folate and copper increases your risk of anemia.

Intestinal disorders. Having an intestinal disorder that affects the absorption of nutrients in your small intestine - such as Crohn's disease and celiac disease - puts you at risk of anemia.

Menstruation. In general, women who haven't had menopause have a greater risk of iron deficiency anemia than do men and postmenopausal women. Menstruation causes the loss of red blood cells.

Pregnancy. Being pregnant and not taking a multivitamin with folic acid and iron, increases your risk of anemia.

Chronic conditions. If you have cancer, kidney failure or another chronic condition, you could be at risk of anemia of chronic disease. These conditions can lead to a shortage of red blood cells.

Slow, chronic blood loss from an ulcer or other source within your body can deplete your body's store of iron, leading to iron deficiency anemia.

Family history. If your family has a history of an inherited anemia, such as sickle cell anemia, you also might be at increased risk of the condition.

Other factors. A history of certain infections, blood diseases and autoimmune disorders increases your risk of anemia. Alcoholism, exposure to toxic chemicals and the use of some medications can affect red blood cell production and lead to anemia.

Age. People over age 65 are at increased risk of anemia.

Complications

Left untreated, anemia can cause many health problems, such as:

Extreme fatigue. Severe anemia can make you so tired that you can't complete everyday tasks.

Pregnancy complications. Pregnant women with folate deficiency anemia can be more likely to have complications, such as premature birth.

Heart problems. Anemia can lead to a rapid or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). When you're anemic your heart pumps more blood to make up for the lack of oxygen in the blood. This can lead to an enlarged heart or heart failure.

Death. Some inherited anemias, such as sickle cell anemia, can lead to life-threatening complications. Losing a lot of blood quickly results in acute, severe anemia and can be fatal. Among older people, anemia is associated with an increased risk of death.

Prevention

Many types of anemia can't be prevented. But you can avoid iron deficiency anemia and vitamin deficiency anemias by eating a diet that includes a variety of vitamins and minerals, including:

Iron. Iron-rich foods include beef and other meats, beans, lentils, iron-fortified cereals, dark green leafy vegetables and dried fruit.

Folate. This nutrient, and its synthetic form folic acid, can be found in fruits and fruit juices, dark green leafy vegetables, green peas, kidney beans, peanuts, and enriched grain products, such as bread, cereal, pasta and rice.

Vitamin B-12. Foods rich in vitamin B-12 include meat, dairy products, and fortified cereal and soy products.

Vitamin C. Foods rich in vitamin C include citrus fruits and juices, peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, melons and strawberries. These also help increase iron absorption.

If you're concerned about getting enough vitamins and minerals from food, ask your doctor whether a multivitamin might help.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Anemia is a condition in which you lack enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your body's tissues. Having anemia, also referred to as low hemoglobin, can make you feel tired and weak. There are many forms of anemia, each with its own cause.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Asthma is a long-term medical condition that affects a person’s lungs. From time to time people with asthma suffer attacks, or episodes of sickness, in which they find it…

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn what diabetes is and the difference between Type 1 and Type 2.