Conditions

Find information about kidney conditions in children.

Topics cover:

  • symptoms and complications
  • causes 
  • tests to diagnose or find out more
  • treatments
  • follow up
  • what may happen in the future.
Acute kidney injury Conditions In AKI, the kidneys suddenly stop working properly over a period of a few days or a few weeks Read more
Antenatal hydronephrosis Water on the kidneys Conditions While a baby is growing in the womb, one or both kidneys hold on to urine and become swollen - may be short-term or may be caused by another problem Read more
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) An introduction Conditions A life-long condition in which the kidneys stop working as well as they should over time - a team of healthcare professionals will support your child Read more
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) - Stages 3b - 5 Complications and treatment for late stage CKD Conditions At later stages of CKD, there are more symptoms and your child will need specialised treatment Read more
Duplex kidneys A congenital anomaly of the kidneys and urinary tract Conditions In duplex kidneys there is a double kidney on one or both sides of the body Read more
Ectopic Kidney A congenital anomaly of the kidneys and urinary tract Conditions An ectopic kidney means that the kidney is not in the usual position Read more
FSGS and IgM nephropathy Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and and IgM nephropathy - nephrotic syndrome Conditions These conditions cause nephrotic syndrome in children - where the kidneys leak too much protein into the urine and lead to swelling in the body Read more
Glomerulonephritis An overview Conditions A group of conditions in which the kidneys are inflamed and leak blood and protein into the urine Read more
Haematuria Blood in the urine Conditions Normally there is no blood in urine - your child's doctor will try to find out what is causing this. Read more
Haemolytic uraemic syndrome (STEC-HUS) Caused by shiga toxin E coli (STEC) / verocytotoxin E coli (VTEC) Conditions STEC-HUS happens in a small number of children after a tummy infection - causing kidney problems and other complications Read more
Henoch–Schönlein purpura (HSP) with kidney involvement Conditions A condition that affects different parts of the body, including the skin, tummy, joints and kidneys Read more
Horseshoe Kidney A congenital anomaly of the kidneys and urinary tract Conditions Instead of having two separate kidneys on each side of the body the two kidneys are joined by their lower parts forming a U-shaped or horseshoe kidney Read more
Hypertension High blood pressure Conditions Hypertension is rare in children, and may be a serious condition. Your child's doctor will try to find out what is causing it. Read more
IgA nephropathy Conditions A type of glomerulonephritis, a condition that causes inflammation in the kidneys, which is usually caused by problems with the immune system Read more
Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) Conditions A type of glomerulonephritis, a condition that causes inflammation in the kidneys, which is usually caused by problems with the immune system Read more
Multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK) A congenital anomaly of the kidneys and urinary tract Conditions Instead of a working kidney, an MCDK is made up of a bundle of cysts, which are like sacs filled with liquid Read more
Nephrotic syndrome Steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome Conditions Nephrotic syndrome happens in children whose kidneys leak too much protein into their urine, and causes swelling in the body Read more
Nephrotic syndrome - frequently relapsing An overview Conditions If your child's nephrotic syndrome keeps coming back, this is said to be frequently relapsing and may need further treatment Read more
Pelvi-ureteric junction (PUJ) dysfunction and obstruction A congenital anomaly of the kidneys and urinary tract Conditions PUJ dysfunction means a narrowing, hold up or blockage at the point where the pelvis of the kidney joins the tube from kidney to bladder (ureter) Read more
Post-infectious glomerulonephritis (PIGN) Also known as post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN) Conditions PIGN happens after an infection in some children, leading to blood and protein in the urine and sometimes other complications Read more
Posterior urethral valves (PUV) Conditions Some boys are born with posterior urethral valves (PUV) Read more
Proteinuria Protein in the urine Conditions Proteinuria means there is an abnormal amount of protein in the urine (wee). Normally there is very little protein that is lost in the urine. Read more
Renal agenesis A congenital anomaly of the kidneys and urinary tract Conditions One or both kidneys do not develop - these babies have one kidney or no kidneys Read more
Renal dysplasia A congenital anomaly of the kidneys and urinary tract Conditions One or both kidneys do not fully develop, and the affected kidney does not work as well as normal Read more
Renal hypoplasia A congenital anomaly of the kidneys and urinary tract Conditions Part of one or both kidneys do not fully develop, and the affected kidney is smaller than normal Read more
Urinary tract infection (UTI) including kidney infections Conditions Urinary tract infections happen when germs get into the urine (wee) and travel into the urinary tract Read more
Vesico-ureteric junction (VUJ) obstruction A congenital anomaly of the kidneys and urinary tract Conditions A narrowing, holdup or blockage where the tube from kidney to bladder (ureter) meets the bladder, known as vesico-ureteric junction obstruction (VUJO) Read more
Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and reflux nephropathy Conditions In VUR, some urine refluxes back up towards the kidneys - sometimes associated with scars on the kidneys (reflux nephropathy) Read more