Pancreatitis

Blood tests

Your child's doctor will look for abnormally high levels of amylase (a digestive enzyme formed in the pancreas) and changes in your child's blood levels of calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, sugar and fats.

Imaging studies

An abdominal ultrasound (also called sonography), uses high-frequency sound waves and a computer to create images of your child's blood vessels, tissues and organs.

Computed tomography scan (also called CT or CAT scan) uses a combination of x-rays and computer technology to produce cross-sectional images (often called slices), both horizontally and vertically, of your child's body. CT scans are more detailed than general x-rays.