Pediatric acute glomerulonephritis

What is pediatric acute glomerulonephritis?

Acute glomerulonephritis results from inflammation of tiny tubes (glomeruli) in the kidney. These tubes act as a filter, cleaning the blood by separating wastes and extra fluid. When the glomeruli do not function properly, waste products build up in blood. Protein and red blood cells also can leak into urine.

What are the signs and symptoms of pediatric acute glomerulonephritis?

• Abdominal pain

• Blood in urine or brown urine

• Fatigue

• Foamy urine

• High blood pressure

• Inefficient filtering of wastes in the blood (shown in blood and urine lab tests)

• Large amounts of protein in urine

• Low blood protein

• Swelling (edema) of the face, eyes, ankles, feet, legs, or abdomen as fluid builds in the body

• Urinating less than usual

What are the causes of pediatric acute glomerulonephritis?

Acute glomerulonephritis occurs suddenly as the result of an infection, such as strep throat, impetigo (bacterial skin infection), lupus or a bacterial infection in the heart.