Pediatric Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency FAQ

PART 1

In this Mission: Cure patient education video, Dr. Freeman, pediatric pancreas specialist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, answers the most commonly asked questions about pediatric exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). This is part 1 of a two-part series.

Key Topics

Section 1: Pediatric EPI Causes & Patterns

  1. What conditions most commonly cause EPI in infants, children, and teens — and are they different from adults?
  2. How is pancreatitis-related EPI different in children than in adults?
  3. Can kids outgrow EPI — or is it usually lifelong? Should they be retested?

Section 2: How Symptoms Look Different in Children

  1. What do early EPI symptoms look like at different ages?
  2. How does EPI affect growth, puberty, and nutrition?
  3. Are subtle or atypical symptoms more common in kids than adults?

Section 3: Pediatric Diagnosis Considerations

  1. How do clinicians diagnose EPI when stool testing is difficult?
  2. Does fecal elastase interpretation differ in infants or kids with diarrhea?
  3. When should a child be evaluated for EPI even if symptoms aren’t obvious?

Part 2 coming soon!

Our Expert Speaker

Alvin Freeman
A. Jay Freeman, MD, MSc

Professor of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine

Director of Pancreatic Care for the Pancreas and Liver Care Center

Medical Director, TPIAT Program

Nationwide Children’s Hospital

This video was made possible with support from AbbVie.

Keep Learning

Mission: Cure offers a growing library of free webinars and tools to help people living with chronic or recurrent pancreatitis manage symptoms, reduce pain, and improve quality of life.

Check out our past webinars featuring experts in pain management, nutrition, mental health, and more!

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