Nephrotic syndrome is a collection of signs related to kidney damage. The conditions associated with nephrotic syndrome include:
Proteinuria - High levels of albumin in the urine, based on their age and weight.
Hypoalbuminemia - Low levels of a protein called albumin in the blood.
Edema - Edema is swelling in the body, especially around the lower body. This happens because the albumin in the blood absorbs excess fluid in the body. With less protein, the fluid level may rise in the cells and tissues, causing them to swell around the abdomen, eyes, face, hands, legs, and ankles.
High cholesterol levels — Low albumin levels trigger the body to produce more blood fats.
The treatment of nephrotic syndrome in a child is also inclusive of ayurvedic medicines to help with changes in kidney functions.
Why is nephrotic syndrome in children a concern?
Aside from the risk of kidney damage, the nephrotic syndrome also causes:
Infection: Fluid in nephrotic syndrome enters the tissues and is susceptible to severe infections, such as one related to the urinary tract.
Blood clots. Losing albumin in the blood can be hard for the child’s body to prevent the risk of blood clots. This can lead to majorly issues in the body, such as pulmonary embolism, in which a blood clot pulls down blood supply to the lungs.
Before it turns out life-threatening, it is important to address it right away. Children with nephrotic syndrome often do well in the beginning, but if the condition relapses, a small percentage can have a serious form of NS and may require treatment of nephrotic syndrome in children.
What are the signs and symptoms of nephrotic syndrome in children?
The signs of nephrotic syndrome may vary significantly in different children, but some of the common signs that your child may experience include:
- fatigue and malaise
- poor appetite
- weight gain
- facial swelling
- abdominal swelling or pain
- foamy urine
- fluid accumulation in the body spaces, calling swelling in the lower extremities
- pale fingernail beds
- dull hair and skin
- food intolerances or allergies
Some kids do not experience any symptoms. They may learn about nephrotic syndrome with the help of routine tests.
When to see the doctor
It is important to consult your doctor as soon as you experience the signs prevailing in your child. The treatment of nephrotic syndrome in children should be called for.
What causes childhood nephrotic syndrome?
The causes of nephrotic syndrome are classified based on how the condition has affected the child. For primary nephrotic syndrome, the cause can be the conditions that impact the kidneys in the first place. The secondary nephrotic syndrome begins anywhere else in the body and triggers nephrotic syndrome in the later stages.
Congenital diseases are the ones present at birth, also cause a nephrotic syndrome in children.
Causes
of Primary Childhood Nephrotic Syndrome
The following diseases are different types
of idiopathic childhood nephrotic syndrome:
Minimal change disease. MCD damages the glomeruli, and this can only be visible with the help of an electron microscope. This type of microscope shows minute changes in the glomeruli to the proximity. The cause of minimal change disease is not known yet.
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. It is the scarring in the different parts of the kidney, such as around the glomeruli. Perhaps, a genetic cause, medications, can be the reason.
Membranous nephropathy. It is a group of disorders involving the buildup of antibodies in the glomeruli. Over time, this antibody buildup can cause thickening of the membranes. It is related to medical conditions, such as lupus, hepatitis B, malaria, etc., or sometimes there is no cause.
Systemic lupus erythematosus. This can trigger serious kidney damage.
Secondary
Childhood Nephrotic Syndrome
● Causes of secondary
childhood nephrotic syndrome are:
● Diabetes. It is a condition
that occurs when the body is not able to use glucose properly.
● Human immunodeficiency
virus alters the immune system and causes NS
● IgA vasculitis is a disease
that causes inflammation in the small blood vessels in the body
● Lupus is an autoimmune
disease causing the body to attacks its own immune system
● Malaria
● Hepatitis
● An infection called streptococcal results when the bacteria that causes strep throat
Other
causes of secondary childhood nephrotic syndrome include
● Certain medications, such
as aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,
● Exposure to chemicals
Congenital
Diseases
Nephrotic syndrome is also caused due to congenital issues. This only affects infants in the first three months of life. It is generally caused by:
● Inherited genetic defects
● Severe infections at the time of birth
Ayurvedic treatment
If
your child is diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, you can seek ayurvedic
treatment for them. This line of treatment is helpful in eliminating the risk
associated with nephrotic syndrome and improving kidney function. The core
reason to NS, which can be any, is addressed in the treatment so that the
chances of relapses are get away with.
