Nephrotic syndrome in children
Causes of nephrotic syndrome
Most children with nephrotic syndrome have "minimal change disease". This means thattheir kidneys appear normal or nearly normal if a tissue sampleis studied under a microscope. The cause of minimal change disease is unknown.
Nephrotic syndrome can sometimesoccur as a result of a kidney problem or another condition, such as:
- glomerulosclerosis when the inside of the kidney becomes scarred
- glomerulonephritis inflammation inside the kidney
- an infection such as HIV or hepatitis
- lupus
- diabetes
- sickle cell anaemia
- in very rare cases, certain types of cancer such as leukaemia , multiple myeloma or lymphoma
These problems tend to be more common in adults with nephrotic syndrome.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Read about nephrotic syndrome, a condition that causes the kidneys to leak large amounts of protein into the urine. This can lead to a range of problems.
What problems can it cause?
Most children with nephrotic syndrome have times when their symptoms are under control (remission), followed by times when symptoms return (relapses). In most cases, relapses becomeless frequent as t
Causes of nephrotic syndrome
Most children with nephrotic syndrome have "minimal change disease". This means thattheir kidneys appear normal or nearly normal if a tissue sampleis studied under a microscope. The cause of minimal c
Diagnosing nephrotic syndrome
Nephrotic syndrome can usually be diagnosed after dipping a dipstick into a urine sample. If there are large amounts of protein in a person's urine,there will be a colour change on the stick. A blood
Managing nephrotic syndrome
The main treatment for nephrotic syndrome is steroids, but additional treatments may also be used if a child develops significant side effects. Most children have relapses until their late teens and
Caring for your child at home
If your child has been diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, you'll need to monitor their condition on a daily basis to check for signs of relapses. You'll need to use a dipstick to test your child's ur
Congenital nephrotic syndrome
Congenital nephrotic syndrome is usually caused by an inherited faulty gene. For the condition to be passed on to a child, both parents must have a healthy copy of the gene and a faulty one. This mea
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