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Proteinuria in Sudanese children
Insights
Proteinuria affects 7.2% of Khartoum children, increasing with age but not socioeconomic status. Further tests revealed haematuria in 27% and abnormal urinary deposits in 14.8% of affected 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.
Abstract:
One thousand, eight hundred and forty-six apparently healthy nursery and school children living in the Khartoum area and belonging to different socio-economic classes were studied. Nine hundred and thirty-seven were boys, 909 girls. Their ages ranged from three to 16 years. N-multistix strips were used to test for proteinuria and haematuria, the former being also checked by the sulphosalicylic acid test. Children with proteinuria of 1+ or more were further investigated by examining their urinary sediment for abnormal deposits and by testing for orthostatic proteinuria using day and night specimens of urine with specific gravity of 1.018 or more. Children who had no proteins on orthostatic testing were rescreened for proteinuria 10-14 days after the initial screening. The prevalence rate for proteinuria was 7.2% with no significant difference between boys and girls. In both sexes the prevalence rate increased significantly with age but was not influenced by the socio-economic status. Of the children with proteinuria, haematuria occurred in 27% and abnormal urinary deposits in 14.8%. Orthostatic testing showed a negative result for proteins in 44%, orthostatic proteinuria in 40%, of whom a third had either abnormal urinary sediments or haematuria, and continuous proteinuria in 15.6% of whom the majority had abnormal deposits.