What Is Pediatric Nephrology?

Pediatric nephrologists specialize in treating patients from birth to young adults. Specialists work with children's disorders for many reasons. You may need a specialist because your child may have a problem adults do not or rarely have, or your child had an issue at birth that requires immediate treatment. Additionally, children often respond differently to medications and treatments or require procedures an adult may not require.

Terminology

• Pediatrics refers to children. The age range begins at birth; however, some practices treat only to about age 12, while others treat until about age 21. Nephrology deals with disorders of the kidneys. Pediatric nephrology means kidney disorder in a child client. Pediatric nephrology includes kidney disorders present at birth or acquired later.

Nephrologist

• A pediatric nephrologist generally treats a child with a pediatric nephrology disorder. A nephrologist has obtained a medical degree and completed additional studies and experiences in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney disorders. A nephrologist specializing in pediatrics obtains further training in the treatment of children with kidney diseases. According to Mayo Clinic, other specialists involved in treatment include urologists, radiologist, surgeons and neonatologists.

Kidneys

• Humans have two kidneys, which are located below the ribcage in the back area. The kidneys clean waste products from the blood. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDKD), kidneys control blood pressure, make hormones that control bone and red blood cell production, reduce extra fluid in the blood and regulate chemicals. Kidney problems in children produce problems such as deformed bones, swelling due to fluid retention and growth problems, according to NIDDKD.

Disorders

• Pediatric nephrology disorders include chronic kidney failure, hypertension, kidney abnormalities, kidney stones, urinary tract infections, obstructions, metabolic diseases, renal cystic diseases and inherited disorders, according to Harvard Medical School. Other disorders include hematuria (blood in urine), proteinuria (protein in urine) and glomerular disease (damage to waste filtration ability by kidneys).

Treatment

• Treatment for pediatric nephrology problems depends on the disorder. Often medication and diet resolve the problem. Severe cases may require surgery or a kidney transplant. According to NIDDKD, there are two main types of kidney dialysis used to remove waste from the blood. Peritoneal dialysis, often used at home, cleans the blood by inserting fluid in the abdominal cavity. Hemodialysis, usually a supervised procedure at a medical facility, uses a machine to filter the blood and return it to the body. A transplant replaces your child’s kidney with a live or deceased donor’s kidney.

Risks

• According to NIDDKD, African-American teens have three times higher risks than Caucasians, and boys have almost double the risk of females for developing kidney failure from some disorders. Children showing symptoms, such as fatigue, depression, slow growth and urination problems require evaluation. According to NIDDKD, failure to follow medication and diet requirements increases risk of kidney failure.