What is Paediatric Nephrology?
Paediatrics is the branch of medical science which deals with diseases of children and Nephrology is the Medical science for kidney diseases. A combination of these is Paediatric Nephrology.Who is a Paediatric Nephrologist?
He or she is a Trained Paediatrician who has expertise in diagnosis and treatment of kidney and urinary bladder related diseases in children from age of newborn to 18 years of age. The doctor is MD in Paediatrics and then would have done minimum 2 years of Fellowship Training in Paediatric Nephrology and works preferably in Children's hospital.
Why there is a need for Paediatric Nephrologist in community?
Children and their diseases have different requirements than adults. The understanding of such disorders require experience in handling small and young children owing to their small size and weights. Paediatric Nephrologists are trained to treat children and not adults, similarly adult Nephrologists are trained only for Adults.
What kind of diseases-abnormalities are looked after by Paediatric Nephrologists?
The usual ones are
- Urinary Tract Infections
- Swelling over eyes / Protein in Urine – Nephrotic Syndrome
- Swelling Red cells in Urine – Nephritic syndrome
- High Blood Pressure
- Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
- Kidney stones in children
- SLE / Lupus Nephritis
- Vasculitis
- Diabetes Insipidus
- Electrolyte abnormalities: Sodium/Potassium/Calcium/Phosphorus
- Renal tubular acidosis
- Renal Rickets
- Antenatal (Before birth) Kidney diseases
- Swelling in kidneys in Ultrasound scan
- Poor Urinary stream in boys
- Poor urine control in boys and girls
- Bed wetting
- Kidney failure
- Single kidney/misplaced (ectopic) kidney
- Failure to gain weight
- Passing increased urine and drinking more water
What are the procedures which are undertaken under Paediatric Nephrology?
- Kidney Transplants in children > 2years
- Kidney Biopsy in kids > 2months
- Haemodialysis in children > 5 kg / Peritoneal dialysis in newborn
- CRRT > 3 months babies
- Plasma Exchange > 3 months babies
- MCU at any age
What is the team in which Paediatric Nephrologist operates?
If required, Paediatric Nephrologist manages kidney diseases with Paediatric Surgeon/ Urologist, Paediatric Radiologist , Dialysis Technician , dietician as team.