Poststreptococcal Glomerulonephritis

When a child has blood in the urine or swelling after a throat or skin infection, it is advisable to seek medical evaluation: that picture may correspond to poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis, an inflammation of the kidneys that appears after an infection by certain streptococcus bacteria.

What is it? It is a condition in which the kidneys' filtering system becomes inflamed as a reaction following a streptococcal infection, affecting the way fluids and waste are eliminated.

Frequent symptoms: dark or reddish urine, swelling in the face and legs, a decrease in the amount of urine, and, at times, elevated blood pressure.

Which specialist treats it? The pediatrician performs the initial evaluation and usually refers to the pediatric nephrologist for kidney follow-up. Seeing these professionals promptly makes it possible to monitor the progression safely.