An Introductin of Childhood Nephropathy

Nephropathy is a condition that affects the kidneys. It requires special attention. Most children with nephropathy make a full recovery within a few weeks. This leaflet has been prepared to help children and their families understand what happens to a child who has nephropathy.
When your child first develops nephropathy they will need some blood and urine tests. These are done to see how well the kidneys are working and to look for the cause of the kidney inflammation. Over the first few days they will need further blood tests to monitor their progress.
We will need to monitor how much urine is passed during the day, and how much your child drinks.
Usually the tests and monitoring are carried out in hospital. Only if your child has unusual features for their nephropathy will we consider a renal biopsy. The kidney specialist will discuss this with you and give you more information.
Nephrotic syndrome is a set of signs or symptoms that may point to kidney problems. Both children and adults can have nephrotic syndrome. The causes of and treatments for nephrotic syndrome in children are sometimes different from the causes and treatments in adults. Childhood nephrotic syndrome can occur at any age but is most common between the ages of 1.5 and 5 years. It seems to affect boys more often than girls. A child with nephrotic syndrome has these signs: high levels of protein in the urine, a condition called proteinuria, low levels of protein in the blood, swelling resulting from buildup of salt and water, less frequent urination, weight gain from excess water. Nephrotic syndrome is not itself a disease. But it can be the first sign of a disease that damages the kidney’s tiny blood-filtering units, called glomeruli, where urine is made.
Points to Remember
* Nephrotic syndrome is a set of signs or symptoms that may point to kidney problems.
* Childhood nephrotic syndrome is most common between the ages of 1.5 and 5 years.
* Nephrotic syndrome causes proteinuria, low levels of protein in the blood, less frequent urination, and swelling and weight gain from the buildup of fluid.
* Diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome requires urine and blood samples and may include a kidney biopsy.
* Most cases of childhood nephrotic syndrome result from minimal change disease.
* The two most common diseases that damage the kidneys’ tiny blood-filtering units and cause nephrotic syndrome are focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis.
* Congenital nephropathy is a rare condition that causes nephrotic syndrome in newborns.