Chronic Kidney Disease in Nigerian Children: Challenges of Management

Abstract

Background: The practice of Paediatric nephrology is challenging in developing countries as clinical management of cases is fraught with a lot of challenges. This study was con du cted to docume nt the epidemiology, outcome of patients with chronic kidney disease and highlight challenges encountered in the management.

Materials and Method: It was aretrospective review of all paediatric cases with chronic kidney disease over l2years period. Retrieved information included demographics, probable aetiology of kidney disease, need for dialysis and clinical outcome.

Results: The prevalence of chronic kidney disease was 1.6%, with male predominance. Glomerulopathies were responsible for CKD.Nephrotic causes in 39% and 25%of cases respectively. Dialysis was required in 35.9%(23/64) but was only accessed in7(30.4%). Histologic diagnosis was not made in all of them. The mortality was 20.3%.

Conclusion: It was thus concluded that nephrotic syndrome was the most common cause of chronic kidney disease. Management of children with chronic kidney diseases in our environment is suboptimal. Therefore it is recommended that the training of renal histopathologist should be encouraged and legislation on renal replacement therapy be emphasized.

Keywords: chronic kidney disease, children, renal repla cement, challenges.