Clinical profile of glomerular diseases in Ethiopian children
Afework, M.; Green-Abate, C.; Tafari, N.
Ethiopian Medical Journal 18(4): 145-150
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0014-1755 PMID: 7460892 Document Number: 159389
Of the 148 children clinically diagnosed as having glomerular diseases over a 5 yr period at the Ethio-Swedish Pediatric Clinic in Addis Ababa, 78.4% had acute glomerulonephritis (AGN), 18.2% had nephrotic syndrome (NS) and 3.4% had chronic glomerulonephritis. The clinical presentation of AGN and NS was similar to those described elsewhere but differed in the incidence of hypertension associated with glomerulonephritis. The underweight and malnourished children with glomerular diseases had a significantly reduced incidence of hypertension compared to those with normal body weight for age (P < 0.005). The high prevalence of skin and throat infections suggests post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis to be common. In cases of NS, complete remission on steroid therapy was noted in 53% within 10-15 days of starting treatment; 23.5% did not respond to steroid therapy within the first 28 days; and the result of therapy was not ascertained in 23.5%. The steroid-responsive minimal lesion type of NS appears to be common.