Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome is the most common type of nephrotic syndrome in children and is often associated with life threatening bacterial infections. While the majority of children respond to prednisolone, most have one or more relapses. In children with significant adverse effects of prednisolone, corticosteroid sparing agents may be required. A kidney biopsy is required to guide therapy in those children, whose nephrotic syndrome fails to respond to prednisolone.

Keywords nephrotic syndrome; infection; prednisolone; corticosteroid sparing therapy; kidney biopsy