The Symptoms of Kidney Disease in Children

Children kidney diseases are mostly primary and they are mainly characterized by increased permeability of glomerular basement membrane. Typical clinical symptoms are massive proteinuria (lots of bubbles in urine), hypoalbuminemia (low plasma albumin), high cholesterol level, systemic pitting edema and abnormal renal functions.

1. Systemic swelling. The most noticeable sign is swelling which often begins from eyelids and face. Then it will gradually involve the whole body and in some severe conditions diseased children will have fluid retention in chest, abdominal cavity, scrotum, penis and labia. In most cases it is pitting edema.

2. Massive proteinuria. Urinary protein qualitative can be +++to ++++. 24-h urine protein quantitative can be more than 0.1g/kg and it can last for more than 2 weeks.

3. Hypoalbuminemia. Total plasma protein can be lower than normal level and the decrease of albumin is more obvious which is often lower than 30g/L. While a2 and β globulins are relatively higher than normal value.

4. High cholesterol. Plasma cholesterol is often higher than 5.7mmol/L (220mg/dl) in children with kidney disease.

5. Blood pressure. Blood pressure can be normal or high.

6. Urine changes. Diseased children can have reduced urination or blood in urine.

If your children has persistent edema, protein in urine or even blood in urine, it is recommended that early diagnosis should be done to make clear weather these symptoms are due to kidney problems so as to take timely and proper medicine and treatments. Doctors will check their urine and blood so as to know blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, plasma protein, plasm cholesterol, etc.

Usually children have better prognosis than adults. They should maintain water and electrolyte balance, prevent infections, alleviate edema and high blood pressure besides adequate rest and enough nutritions.

Conventional treatment for children kidney diseases are hormones and the commonly prescribed medicine is prednisone.

Compared with adults, children has lower immunity and poorer compliance to prescribed medicines and treatments, therefore they have higher risk of relapse, so parents should pay more attention to their daily nursing and cares.