Pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD)

What is pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD)?

Kidneys play many important roles in a child’s overall health. They make urine, and filter water and waste out of the blood. Kidneys also balance salts and minerals that circulate in the blood, and make hormones that control blood pressure and create red blood cells. When the kidney doesn't function properly, it can lead health complications and kidney failure.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) does not disappear with treatment and often gets worse over time.

What are the signs and symptoms of pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD)?

Children in the early stages of chronic kidney disease may not show any symptoms.

The following symptoms may not be apparent until the disease is more serious:

• Blood in urine

• Burning pain while urinating

• Dehydration

• Difficulty sleeping

• Dry, itchy skin

• Fatigue

• Fever

• Frequent urination, especially at night, and having accidents during the day

• High blood pressure

• Muscle cramps at night

• Pain in the back, side or lower belly

• Poor appetite

• Swelling of the feet, ankles, legs or puffy eyes in the morning

How is pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD) disgnoised?

• Blood test - estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin-creatinine ration (uACR) which are repeated to confirm long-term damage over three months or more.

What are the causes of pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD)?

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) in children can result from an acute (sudden) kidney injury that doesn’t improve, or any of the other following causes:

• Chronic, severe high blood pressure

• Frequent dehydration

• Glomerulonephritis

• Infections

• Inherited diseases (including polycystic kidney disease)

• Kidney malformations at birth

• Lupus

• Obstructions, like kidney stones or tumors

• Repeated urinary tract infections (UTIs)