Changing Pattern of Pediatric Renal Disorders in Calabar, Nigeria

The pattern of renal diseases among children is similar in most parts of the world, but with different frequencies. The pattern of renal disorders in Calabar was studied 16 years prior to the current study. This review is aimed at revealing any change in the pattern of renal disorders in Calabar 16 years after the first study. This study was carried out by analyzing case notes of children admitted to the pediatric medical ward of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria between January 2006 and December 2016.   Of 8,711 children admitted during these ten years, 216 (2.5%) had renal disorders. Acute glomerulonephritis (AGN) was the commonest renal disorder observed in 64 (29.6%) cases followed by urinary tract infection (UTI) (n=60, 27.8%) and nephrotic syndrome (NS) (n=49, 22.7%). Other diseases included nephroblastoma, chronic renal failure, acute renal failure, and posterior urethra valves. Similarly, the above findings were seen in our previous study with AGN being the commonest followed by NS and then UTI. Other findings in this study, including polycystic kidney disease, renal calculi, hemolytic uremic syndrome, HIV, and sickle cell nephropathies, were not seen in the previous study. The case fatality rate was 1.9%, which was mainly due to the complications of acute nephritis. AGN still remains the commonest renal disorder in Calabar and UTI is now the second commonest renal disease. The spectrum of renal diseases in Calabar is expanding, including polycystic kidney disease, calculi, hemolytic uremic syndrome, HIV, and sickle cell nephropathies.Keywords: Changing Pattern; Renal disorders; Calabar; Children.