Infections in children with nephrotic syndrome

To determine the different types of infections in nephrotic children and their association with the activity of disease.

A descriptive study.

It was carried out at National Institute of Child Health (NICH), Karachi from August 1995-July 1996.

All children with nephrotic syndrome who had various infections during the study period were evaluated for the activity of disease and type of infections.

Out of 62 children with nephrotic syndrome having infections, 45 (72.58%) were boys and 17 (27.42%) girls in a ratio of 2.5:1. Out of them 53 (85.45%) were known nephrotics and 36 (58%) of them were on steroid therapy. Nine were new cases and had not received steroids. A total of 74 episodes of infections were observed in 62 children. Acute respiratory infections (ARI) and skin infections were the most common (29.27% and 27.02% respectively) followed by diarrhoea (13.51%), UTI (12.5%) and peritonitis (10.81%). Two patients had pulmonary tuberculosis and 3 patients had more than one infection (cellulitis, peritonitis and pneumonia). All children with cellulitis and peritonitis were in active disease, whereas more than 80% of patients with ARI, diarrhoea and UTI were having either relapse or had recent onset of disease.

The study showed that ARI, cellulitis and diarrhoea were most common infections followed by UTI and peritonitis. Majority of the infections (>78%) were associated with active disease