IgA Nephropathy, or Berger's disease is regularly diagnosed in children.
Inducements of this disease may include the upper respiratory tract infection,
diarrhea, infection of the urinary tract, etc. Though the symptoms of IgA
Nephropathy in children vary with different cases, we give the common ones as
below.
▪ Hematuria-the most common symptom of pediatric IgA Nephropathy
1. Gross hematuria. This is often the first symptom in about 80 percent of
cases. Hematuria usually occurs aften 24~72 hours of the upper respiratory tract
infection. For kids who have antiadoncus simultaneously, hematuria may disappear
after tonsillectomy.
2. Microscopic hematuria. It can not be seen with naked eyes, but only be
detected under the microscope.
▪ Protein in urine
Some children with IgA Nephropathy will present both hematuria and protein in
urine. In this case, the hematuria can either be microscopic hematuria or
paroxysmal gross hematuria. Most cases of proteinuria are mild (150–500 mg) to
moderate (500–1000 mg).
For 15 to 30 percent cases of IgA Nephropathy, the clinical manifestations
are the same with Nephrotic Syndrome, and patients show massive protein in
urine, edema, hyperlipidemia and hypoproteinemia, seldome accompanied with
respiratory tract infection. Some patients may show nephritis syndrome.
▪ High blood pressure
High blood pressure or hypertension may appear in 5 percent of IgA
Nephropathy in children. In general, the occurrence of high blood pressure will
cause rapid deterioration of kidney function, so it is critical to have a good
control of hypertension and prevent the progression into renal
insufficiency.
Statistics show that 5 to 10 percent of children with IgA Nephropathy will
develop total kidney failure, a permanent loss of renal function. People with
kidney failure need dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Parents should find effective treatment for your child as early as possible.
The treatment should help prevent further progression, repair the impaired
kidney function and rebuild the immune system. If the disease are treated
fundamentally, the symptoms will never recur.