What is the cause of acute glomerulonephritis in children?

Pediatric acute glomerulonephritis is a very common disease. When your child is sick, you need to pay attention to treatment because otherwise the disease will turn into chronic glomerulonephritis and seriously affect your health.

Has your baby been diagnosed with glomerulonephritis and are you feeling very worried? You do not know how to take care of your baby? If you are having questions above, please follow the following sharing of aFamilyToday Health to understand more about this disease as well as know how to take care of children appropriately.

What disease is acute glomerulonephritis in children?

The kidney is a bean-shaped organ, fist-sized, located on the sides, close to the waist. The main function of the kidneys is to filter blood, removing waste products from the body through urine. The small units that filter blood in the kidneys are called glomeruli.

Glomerulonephritis in children is inflammation, swelling, and irritation that causes the kidneys to not work properly. From there, the fluid will stagnate in the body, causing the child to swell the face, feet, ankles, legs ...

Causes of acute glomerulonephritis in children

The causes of glomerulonephritis are often:

Immune disorders:  lupus erythematosus (a chronic inflammatory disease that affects many parts of the body, Goodpasture syndrome (a lung immune disorder).

Viral infection: HIV virus causes immunodeficiency in humans and viruses that affect the liver such as hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus.

Wegener's granulomatosis: an inflammatory disease of the blood vessels in the nose, sinuses, throat, and kidneys.

Diseases affecting blood vessels:  vasculitis or Henoch Schonlein purpura .

Group A streptococcal infection (the bacteria that cause sore throats): In children, this is the most common cause.

Symptoms of acute glomerulonephritis in children

Children with acute glomerulonephritis will have different symptoms, but in general the following are the most common:

Dark brown urine (due to blood and protein contamination)

Swelling, swelling around the face, eyes, ankles, legs and abdomen, especially in the morning

Sore throat

Little urination

Tired

Shortness of breath

Headache

High Blood Pressure

Epileptic

A rash, especially in the buttocks and legs

Lost weight

Athritis

Pale skin color

The symptoms of glomerulonephritis may resemble other diseases. Therefore, if you suspect that your child may have acute glomerulonephritis, seek immediate medical attention.

Diagnosis of acute glomerulonephritis in children

In addition to getting a checkup and learning about your child's medical history, your doctor may order some of the following tests for your baby:

Throat culture

Urine test

Blood tests

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)

Kidney ultrasound

Chest X-ray

Kidney biopsy

Treatment of acute glomerulonephritis in children

The treatment of glomerulonephritis for children will be indicated based on these factors:

Child's age, general health and medical history

The cause to the illness

Disease level

The child's tolerance to specific drugs, procedures, or therapies

If glomerulonephritis is caused by streptococcal infection, treatment will focus on symptoms associated with a respiratory infection. However, most treatments will focus on slowing disease progression and preventing complications.

Diet for children with acute glomerulonephritis

In addition to complying with the treatment measures required by the doctor, you should also pay attention to the child's diet to enhance the effectiveness of treatment and help the child recover quickly:

1. Eat less salt

You should give your child foods low in salt to improve and control blood pressure, limit the risk of hypertension and prevent the risk of water retention leading to swelling.

2. Water restriction

Limit too much water to the body to help control blood pressure and reduce the burden on the kidneys when the kidneys are weakened.

3. Limit eating protein-rich foods

You should pay attention to avoid giving your child foods that are too high in protein. This helps the kidneys work more efficiently. Eating less protein rich foods will reduce the workload of the kidneys, help the kidneys recover and slow down the accumulation of waste products in the blood.

Complications of acute glomerulonephritis in children

If left untreated, acute glomerulonephritis can lead to chronic kidney failure. More severe, it can lead to dangerous complications like high blood pressure or heart failure . Children may even have anuria , kidney damage, unable to filter the urine and lead to death.

Through the above sharing, hopefully you have some more useful information about acute glomerulonephritis in children. If you suspect your baby is suffering from this disease, take him to medical facilities for examination and treatment to avoid dangerous complications.