Proteinuria in Sudanese children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nephrology
• Clinical Urinalysis

Background:

• Proteinuria and haematuria are potential indicators of kidney disease in children.
• Understanding the prevalence and characteristics of these findings in a specific population is crucial for early detection and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of proteinuria and haematuria in apparently healthy school children in Khartoum.
• To investigate the relationship between these urinary abnormalities, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
• To characterize the types of proteinuria (orthostatic vs. continuous) and associated urinary findings.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study of 1,846 healthy children aged 3-16 years in Khartoum.
• Screening for proteinuria using N-multistix and confirmed with sulphosalicylic acid test.
• Further investigations included urinary sediment analysis and orthostatic proteinuria testing.
• Rescreening for proteinuria was performed in children with initially negative orthostatic tests.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of proteinuria was 7.2%, with no significant difference between sexes.
• Proteinuria prevalence increased significantly with age but was not influenced by socioeconomic status.
• Among children with proteinuria, 27% had haematuria and 14.8% had abnormal urinary deposits.
• Orthostatic proteinuria was diagnosed in 40% of children with proteinuria, while 15.6% had continuous proteinuria.

Conclusions:

• Proteinuria is relatively common in healthy school children in Khartoum, with prevalence rising with age.
• Orthostatic proteinuria is a significant finding in this pediatric population, often associated with haematuria or abnormal urinary sediments.
• Regular screening and follow-up are important for identifying and managing potential renal abnormalities in children.