ACUTE GLOMERULONEPHRITIS

Also called acute nephritis, this is a disease of the kidney following bacterial infection of the throat or skin. A typical case usually affects a school going child; it is extremely rare in the preschool period. 

SYMPTOMS: About 3 weeks after a sore throat or skin infection, you may notice that the child is passing less urine. It is reddish in colour. On getting up in the morning, the child’s face is found to be puffy. The swelling is more marked below the eyes and spreads also to the lower limbs. In some cases, the blood pressure goes up and the child may also get fits. Your doctor will first ask for a urine test and then may order some blood tests.

Fortunately, 95% of children recover completely without any damage to the kidneys. The child looks normal within 2 to 3 weeks when the urine output and colour becomes normal and the swelling disappears. The urine may show the presence of red cells and albumin for a longer period. Keep in touch with your doctor. Most likely, he/she will also reassure you and will not prescribe any further medicine.

TREATMENT: Your doctor will advise bed rest and certain restrictions in diet, salt and water intake. He/she will also prescribe medicine for the residual throat or skin infection and for the raised blood pressure, if any. In the first few days, your doctor may like to check the child’s blood pressure twice daily. If the blood pressure is high or the child has convulsions or marked reduction in urine output, he/she may wish to hospitalise the child.

7 March, 2016