Chronic renal failure in children

Abstract

Objective: To determine the clinical presentation and find out the underlying cause of chronic renal failure (CRF).

Methods: This is a descriptive prospective study of patients attending children hospital, Chandka Medical College Larkana and National Institute of Child Health (Paediatric Nephrology Unit) Karachi from January 1993 to December 1996.

Results: Seventy eight confirmed cases of chronic renal failure (CRF) were included in the study. Out of them 51 were male and 27 females (M:F ratio 1.8:1). Most of the children (90%) presented after 3 years of age. Common clinical presentation were anaemia (93.5%) cases, growth retardation (74.3% cases), urinary complaints (65.3%) cases and hypertension (53.8%) cases. Common causes leading to CRF were reflux nephropathy (24.5%), posterior uretheral valves (23%), chronic glomerulonephritis (15.4%) and urolithiasis (14%).

Conclusion: Early diagnosis and management of most common causes of CRF may prevent and delay the progression to end stage renal disease (ESRD).