Our workIt affects also children Kidneys with problems Due to congenital or acquired causes, it affects infants, children and adults alike when kidneys are not able to keep blood clean from dejects and toxins produced by the body. Even before one year old, Kristofer suffered from repeated fever symptoms which indicated urinary infections. At three, he was still unable to control his sphincter, and now, at ten, he uses about eight diaper packages every month. |
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He receives dialysis three times a week and weighs only 26 kg, while his twin brother weighs as much as 36. His condition derives from an anomaly in his bladder, which causes repeated urinary infections which have eventually destroyed his kidneys. The condition requires a transplantation, which he expects as soon as possible.
Just like Kristofer, there are some other 400 thousand cases of chronic renal insufficiency, and new cases are reported every year, according to Dr. Felipe Cavagnaro, head of the Nephrology unit of the Universidad Católica Clinic Hospital, Kristofer’s physician and responsible for the renal program at the Foundation “Encestando una Sonrisa”.
Signals to be aware of
If the child presents urinary alterations such as difficulty in starting the flow of urine, frequent passing of urine or recurring urinary infections, there should be concerns about signals of a renal problem. Many times, kidneys take a long time to advise of the problem, and the extent of the problem will depend on its cause, explains Dr. Cavagnaro, and he adds: ”In small children, the main cause of renal insufficiency are nephrological alterations, such as kidney absence or urinary tract malformation. Those are congenital causes, detected after the birth or when the infant does not grow up adequately, or also by repeated urinary infections, or even for swollen abdomen caused by an enlarged kidney”. In advanced cases, there is hypertension, paleness and loss of appetite. There are also acquired causes such as the Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), Glomerulonephritis, injuries or surgeries that damage the urinary tract.
Care about urinary infections
Behind an infection may be a malformation, therefore Dr. Felipe Cavagnaro advises that there should be some study, not only a treatment. Fever with no apparent cause, pain at urination, dark urine or bad smell may be some signals of the problem. For prevention, it is important to promote hygiene, especially with girls, who should be taught not to clean forward.
As urine is an excellent culture media, children should be encouraged to use the bathroom frequently, to prevent bacteria from entering their urinary tract and causing infection.
Treatment
Renal insufficiency is progressive and there is the need of transplantation and dialysis when the renal function falls below 15 percent. When the damage is still low, treatment tries to supply some of the kidney functions. Transplantations might lead to normal life if followed by continuous medication and a second transplantation after some 15-20 years. “Many children in the terminal stage of renal insufficiency will receive a kidney from a close family member, but not every of them will have that chance, so there are waiting lists. From about 900 patients registered in waiting lists, some 400 out of them are under 16”, says Dr. Felipe Cavagnaro.
Another barrier is the high cost, and this is the reason for a number of institutions focused on helping renal patients. One of them is the Foundation “Encestando una Sonrisa”, whose mission is to finance the treatment before transplantation, fund the surgery, and supply immunosuppressive drugs up to the time the patient reaches age 18.