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Acute renal failure related to infectious disease in infancy and childhood

A S Gokalp1, A Oguz, A Gultekin

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey.

Insights

Infectious diseases, particularly sepsis, were the primary cause of acute renal failure in 94% of children studied in Turkey. Many of these infections are preventable, highlighting a critical public health concern.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Nephrology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Acute renal failure (ARF) in children poses significant health challenges.
  • Identifying the underlying causes of ARF is crucial for effective prevention and treatment.
  • Infectious etiologies are a major concern in pediatric ARF, especially in resource-limited settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and causes of acute renal failure in children in Sivas, Turkey.
  • To identify the specific infectious agents and conditions leading to ARF in this pediatric population.
  • To assess the role of preventable infectious diseases in the etiology of pediatric ARF.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study was conducted between 1983 and 1989.
  • The study included 109 children diagnosed with acute renal failure.
  • Data on the underlying causes, with a focus on infectious diseases, were collected and analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Out of 109 children with ARF, 94 (86.2%) had an infectious disease as the underlying cause.
  • Preventable infections such as acute gastro-enteritis, sepsis, and post-streptococcal acute glomerulonephritis were frequently identified.
  • Sepsis emerged as the infectious condition with the highest incidence rate among the ARF cases.

Conclusions:

  • Infectious diseases are a predominant cause of acute renal failure in children in the studied region of Turkey.
  • A significant proportion of pediatric ARF cases are linked to preventable infectious conditions.
  • Targeted interventions addressing sepsis and other common infections are essential for reducing the burden of pediatric ARF.

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