Clinical Study on Acute Glomerulonephritis in Children

ABSTRACT

A clinical study was done on 199 cases of Acute Glomerulonehritis, who had been admitted to the department of Pediatrics, Chonnam National University Hospital during the five years period from January 1976 to December 1980. The following results were obtained. 1) Males were affected more frequently than females by a 21 ratio, and the highest incidence was noted in children between 4 and 6 years of age, with a seasonal peak in Autumn and Winter. 2) The 57.8% of the total patients had history of preceding infections. The upper respiratory tract infection was most common, which was 51.3% of the total patients, and the skin infection was identified in 4.0% of the total patients. 3) The most common chief complaint was edema. Blood pressure of greater than 90mmHg in diastolic pressure was noted in approximately half of the patients. 4) Chest X-ray revealed cardiomegaly in21.9%, pulmonary edema in 12.8%, and pleural effusion in 9.1%. 5) The percentage of positive beta-hemolytic streptococcal culture was 12.3%, and Anti-Streptolysin O titer of greater than 333 Todd units was noted in 64.5%. 6) The mean value of serum C3 concentrationin the Acute Glomerulonephritis Group as a whole was lower than that of the Control Group and the difference was statistically significant(p<.001). 7) Gross hematuria and edema disappeared in most of the patients within 2 weeks after the onset of the symptoms, and the elevated blood pressure returned to normal within 2 weeks after admission. 8) Microscopic hematuria and proteinuria disappeared in most of the patients within 3 months after admission.