There are several reasons why your children can have a kidney disease:

Congenital issues: A significant portion of paediatric chronic kidney disease cases are due to congenital disabilities. These issues occur when some parts of the baby don’t develop fully before birth. This can lead to medical conditions where a baby is born with a missing kidney, or one kidney is smaller than the other. Renal fusion (horseshoe kidney) is an example of a congenital problem. In this disorder, both kidneys are fused into one and may require surgery at a later stage.
Hereditary diseases: A parent can pass on a mutated gene to the child, which can cause kidney-related disorders. Polycystic kidney disease, the formation of cysts in kidneys, is a common hereditary disorder in children.
Infection: An infection in other parts of the body may hamper the filtering system in the kidneys, causing acute infection. Kidney infection symptoms are swelling of the feet and a sudden change in the frequency of urination.
Nephrotic syndrome: Our kidneys are full of small blood vessels, called glomeruli, that work as the blood filtration system. In this order, these tiny blood vessels are damaged. This affects the protein processing carried by the blood, which passes into the urine. Among teenagers, this is one of the most common reasons for chronic kidney disease.
Systemic diseases: These diseases affect many body parts, including the kidneys. Auto-immune diseases, such as lupus nephritis, are examples of systemic diseases that impact the kidneys as well.
Trauma: Severe dehydration, injury or surgery can lead to low blood pressure. In this state, blood flow to the kidneys reduces significantly. This can lead to acute kidney disorder or kidney failure.
Reflux: Reflux happens when the bladder urine becomes infected and travels back to the kidneys, which may cause a kidney infection. This problem is associated with improper functioning of the valve between the bladder and the ureter.

Symptoms and Signs of Kidney Disease

Children may not show noticeable signs or symptoms during the early stages of kidney-related issues. As the situation worsens, the most common symptoms to look for are:

A change in the frequency of urination or discomfort while passing urine
Sudden episodes of bedwetting at night
Pain or burning sensation while urinating
Swelling in the feet, legs, eyes and face – a condition called oedema
Foamy discharge, which shows excessive protein in the urine
Constant fatigue and lack of appetite
Passing blood in the urine
High blood pressure

Other common signs of a kidney-related clinical condition are fever, feeling of irritation, vomiting, weight loss and slow growth.

Tests and Diagnosis in Paediatric Nephrology

If your doctor suspects a kidney disorder, they will order tests and scans to identify the type and extent of the issue based on the preliminary diagnosis. The standard line of diagnosis includes:

Understanding the medical history of your child
Checking vital parameters – High blood pressure can be a symptom of a kidney disease. The doctor also checks whether your child has average physical growth at that age. Stunted growth can be related to kidney disorders.
Ordering tests—The doctor will order a urine test analysis to identify inflammation or irritation in the urinary tract. The test can also determine excess white or red blood cells in the urine.
Kidney biopsy: For further investigation and accurate diagnosis, your doctor may order a kidney biopsy. In this procedure, a small piece of kidney tissue is examined under a microscope for possible signs of damage.
Imaging tests: Sometimes, your doctor may order X-rays, CT scans or ultrasound for diagnosis.

Paediatric Nephrology Treatment

Your child's exact course of treatment will depend on the extent of symptoms, type of disease, age and diagnostic results. In most cases, the treatment is managed by a paediatrician and a nephrologist for the best possible care of your child.

Treatment for acute kidney disease involves:

Immediate hospitalisation
Monitoring of body salts – sodium, potassium and ammonia
Replenishing the body with large amounts of fluids
Medicines to support the body in creating more urine and controlling blood pressure
A controlled diet

Treatment for chronic kidney disease will depend on the extent of damage to the kidneys. It may involve:

Periodic hospitalisation
Medicines to help kidneys function normally – process protein, produce more urine
Increase fluid intake
Controlled diet to limit intake of protein, sodium, potassium, and phosphorus
Dialysis
Kidney transplant

Dialysis treatment or kidney transplant is focused on providing the least discomfort to the child. Our team of experienced paediatric nephrologists understands the need for quality care in managing chronic kidney disease and aims to improve your child's quality of life.