ABSTRACT
pediatric patients at Saddam Central Teaching Hospital for Children with signs and symptoms of acute-streptococcal glomerulonephritis [APSGN] were studied in order to compare the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory aspects of this disease with those found abroad. Patients and 106 patients were admitted during a one-year period. All of these cases were studied with respect to age, sex, clinical features, seasonal distribution, complete blood count, bacterial cultures, antistreptolysin O titers, complement C3 and C4, blood urea nitrogen, and serum electrolytes. the dominant age was from 6 to 12 years with a peak incidence in children of 6-7. There was an equal male to female ratio. A clustering of cases was observed in September, October, and November at the beginning of the school year. The commonest site of streptococcal infection was throat [68%]. Recent skin infection accounted for 5% of the cases. In 27% of the cases, no history of infection was noted. Clinically, the picture was similar to that of other reports. A significant elevation of the ASO titer was detected in 42%. The C3 complement serum level was decreased in 90% of cases. Anemia was found in 61% of patients. A hemoglobin of 9 g/dl or less was found in 25% of the anemic patients. A relative increase in neutrophils [70% or more] was found in 62% of the cases. Complete recovery occurred in 97% of the cases. APSGN is similar in our community to that which has been reported elsewhere with the exception of a weaker antibody response to the infection that preceded the acute glomerulonephritis, equal occurrence in males and females, and the presence of anemia