Pediatric Nephrology
Pediatric nephrology is a subspecialty of pediatrics that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of kidney and urinary tract diseases in children. It focuses on kidney health in infants, children, and adolescents between the ages of 0 and 18.
Main Areas of Interest
Congenital kidney anomalies (such as renal agenesis, duplicated collecting system, etc.)
Urinary tract infections and recurrent cystitis
Diseases affecting the kidney’s filtering system, such as nephrotic syndrome and glomerulonephritis
Kidney stones (nephrolithiasis) and their metabolic causes
Hypertension (especially kidney-related hypertension in childhood)
Kidney failure (acute and chronic)
Follow-up after dialysis and kidney transplantation
Enuresis (bedwetting) and voiding disorders
Main Diagnostic Tests and Procedures
Urinalysis and urine culture
Renal ultrasound, scintigraphy, and MRI
Blood tests (urea, creatinine, electrolytes)
24-hour urine collection tests
Kidney biopsy (when necessary)
Principles of Follow-up and Treatment
Early diagnosis is crucial: kidney diseases in children may progress silently.
Dietary modifications (salt restriction, balanced protein intake, adequate fluid consumption)
Prevention of infections
Medication when necessary (blood pressure control, immunosuppressive therapies, etc.)
Planning hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, or kidney transplantation in advanced stages