Pediatric Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)

Enzymes, School & Transitioning to Adult Care

Q&A with Dr. Freeman | PART 2

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 2 of a two-part series.

Learn about the the day-to-day of managing pediatric EPI, including PERT dosing, enzymes at school and mealtimes, nutrition monitoring, common mistakes, and preparing teens to transition to adult care.

Key Topics

Section 1: PERT & Nutrition for Children
  1. What is PERT, and how is PERT dosing different for children?
  2. How can caregivers manage enzymes when meal sizes change daily?
  3. How do families manage enzymes at school or daycare?
  4. Do children need different vitamin or nutrition monitoring?
  5. How can parents help kids take ownership of their enzymes?

Section 2: Safety, Adherence & Special Scenarios

  1. What should families know about switching PERT brands?
  2. What are some common mistakes families can make?
  3. What are the red flags that dosing needs adjustment?

Section 3: Transitioning to Adult Care

  1. When should teens start preparing for transition?
  2. What skills should adolescents develop?
  3. How do you ensure continuity when switching providers?

Missed Part 1?

Learn about pediatric EPI causes & patterns, how symptoms look different in children, and pediatric diagnostic considerations.

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

Keep Learning

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

Check out our other resources featuring experts in pain management, nutrition, mental health, and more!

This video was made possible with support from AbbVie.

Woman wearing a white lab coat.

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