Characteristics of Acute Glomerularnephritis in Children

Acute Nephritis short for Acute Glomerularnephritis is a common disease among children. Knowing the characteristics of Acute Glomerularnephritis is very important to decrease the damage to the patients. Therefore, it is very necessary for the parents to learn more knowledge about Acute Glomerularnephritis in children.

First, Acute Glomerularnephritis often occurs after acute infection.

It usually occurs after acute infection, mainly streptococcal infection. It is mainly characterized with edema, decreased urine output, hematuria, and high blood pressure. In severe cases, the children may have serious circulatory congestion, heart failure, hypertensive encephalopathy, Acute Renal Failure and so on.

Second, winter is the peak season of Acute Glomerularnephritis.

Acute Glomerularnephritis is common among the children aging 5~10, but is rare in the children below 2 years old. Its incidence is higher in the boys with 2:1 in boys and girls. It often occurs in winter. Before the onset of the disease, most of the children have acute upper respiratory tract infection or skin infection. Tonsil inflammation is the most common cause of Acute Glomerularnephritis in children. Usually, it occurs within 3 weeks of the infection. Generally, the prognosis of the disease in children is good. However, in some cases, it can develop into Chronic Nephritis.

Third,health care for the children with Acute Glomerularnephritis.

In the early time of Acute Glomerularnephritis, the children need to stay in bed, which can decrease the pressure to hearts and improve heart function. Once cardiac blood output increases, the renal plasma flow will also increase. It can alleviate retention of water and sodium and other potential complications. Therefore, the parents should know the important of rest for the children. Generally, the children need to stay in bed for two weeks. When edema disappears, the blood pressure recovers normal and gross hematuria disappears, the children can have proper activity.

Fourth,diet for children with Acute Glomerularnephritis

(1)In the acute period, the children will have decreased urine output thus causing edema. Therefore, at that time, the intake of salt should be limited within 1~2 grams per day.

(2) If the children have serious edema, decreased urine output, they should decrease the water intake. The amount of water intake should not exceed 400 ml than the urine output of the previous day.

(3) The children with Acute Glomerularnephritis should limit the protein intake. The metabolic product of protein is mainly excreted out of body by kidneys. In the early stage of Acute Glomerularnephritis, the children’ renal function usually decreases to some extent so the metabolic product of protein can not be excreted out of body normally. Therefore, the children should decrease the protein intake properly.