Normal serum amylase values were established for the pediatric age group (47.7 +/- 28.6 mg/dl); these are higher than previously stated. Average serum amylase values increased with increasing age (r = 0.55). The three commonest causes of pancreatitis in 54 patients studied were drug induced (16), idiopathic (10), and traumatic (7). Prednisone was the most frequently implicated drug. Midepigastric pain and vomiting were the presenting symptoms in 75% of the patients. Serum amylase values were more than three times normal in 63.8% of patients; 17% of patients presented with normal serum amylase values. The typical patient received intravenous therapy for 5.4 days and was hospitalized for 9.4 days. Treatment with antibiotic and anticholinergic drugs did not alter mortality or morbidity rates. Mortality rate for acute interstitial pancreatitis was 17.5%, and for acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis was 86%.