Paediatric Nephrology in Africa.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We highlight the unique facets of paediatric nephrology in Africa in terms of the spectrum of kidney diseases, available diagnostic and treatment modalities, kidney healthcare financing options, paediatric nephrology manpower and the contribution of geography and demographics. RECENT FINDINGS: Paediatric acute kidney injury in Africa is now commonly due to sepsis rather than gastroenteritis. Steroid-sensitive form of nephrotic syndrome is far more common than was two decades ago. SUMMARY: The hot arid climate in North Africa and the tropical climate in most of sub-Saharan Africa, and the high rate of consanguinity, sickle cell disease and HIV drive the spectrum of paediatric kidney diseases in the continent. Kidney diseases are often precipitated by infectious triggers associated with poor living conditions and little access to medical care thus resulting in late presentation and often end-stage kidney disease. Although accessibility to kidney care has improved in the continent due to training opportunities provided by international professional organisations, most children still face significant barriers to kidney care because they live in rural areas, governments spend the least on healthcare and the continent has the least density of healthcare practitioners and nephrology trainees.

Diagnosis of Acute Kidney Injury in Children Hospitalized in a Sub-Saharan African Unit by Saliva Urea Nitrogen Dipstick Test.

INTRODUCTION: Acute kidney injury in pediatric patients (pAKI) is common in developing countries and leads to significant morbidity and mortality. Most nephrology services in developing countries are only in larger cities and for that reason many cases remain undiagnosed. We evaluated the performance of a saliva urea nitrogen (SUN) dipstick to diagnose pAKI in Sudan. METHODS: We collected demographic and clinical information, serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), SUN, and urine output (UO) in children with pAKI. pAKI was diagnosed based on different criteria (Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss of kidney function, and end-stage kidney disease, Acute Kidney Injury Network and Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes). We also recorded hospital and 3-months' mortality and progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD) as outcomes. RESULTS: We studied 81 patients (mean age 10.7 ± 7 years, 51.9% females) and divided them by age into (a) neonates (<120 days; n = 21; 25.9%); (b) -infants (120-365 days; n = 18; 25.9%); and (c) children (>365 days; n = 42; 53.1%). Diagnosis using different pAKI definitions resulted in differences in AKI staging. SUN reliably reflected BUN over the entire study period, regardless of treatment modality or pAKI severity. Neither pAKI staging, SUN, BUN, nor SCr were associated with mortality or progression to CKD. UO predicted all-cause mortality during the 3-months follow-up. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of pAKI using different criteria differs in triage and staging. SUN reflects BUN particularly at higher BUN levels and allows monitoring of treatment responses. Despite the lack of predictive power of SUN to predict hard outcomes, measurement of SUN by dipstick can be used to identify, screen, and monitor pediatric patients with pAKI.

Characteristics and outcome of hemolytic uremic syndrome in Sudanese children in a single Centre in Khartoum State.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is one of the important causes of acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in children. Proposed prognostic features are controversial. We reviewed, retrospectively, the records of children with HUS seen at Soba hospital, Khartoum (2004-2012). We aimed to study demographics, clinical/ laboratory features, outcome and prognostic risk factors. Thirty-nine children with HUS were recorded; 59% had diarrhoea positive (D+) and 41% diarrhoea negative (D-) HUS. The mean age was 65.4 months and males were 61.5%. At the acute phase seizures, coma, anuria/oliguria and hypertension were present in 25%, 17.9%, 51.3% and 53.8% respectively. Severe anaemia, thrombocytopenia, and leukocytosis were present in 71.8%, 97.4%, and 28.2% respectively. On discharge, hypertension was detected in 23.1%. Clinical and laboratory features were not significantly different in D+ and D- cases (P > 0.05 for all parameters). Dialysis was undertaken in 84.6% and acute mortality was 12.8% being significantly higher in D+ (P = 0.002). Demographic, clinical and laboratory features, late referral or need for dialysis were not significantly associated with higher risk of acute mortality (p > 0.05 for all). At short-term follow up (mean period ± SD of 18.54 ± 13.21 months), 51.3% had complete renal recovery, 15.4% CKD 3-4, 12.8% CKD 5 requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT), and 20.5% died. Higher mean serum creatinine and hypertension on discharge were risk factors for adverse outcome (CKD5 requiring RRT or death), P = 0.011 and 0.00 respectively. In spite of institution of RRT and supportive therapy, our data showed less favourable outcome of HUS.

Outcome of acute kidney injury in Sudanese children - an experience from a sub-Saharan African unit.

UNLABELLED: ♦ BACKGROUND: Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Although continuous renal replacement therapy is gaining more popularity worldwide, peritoneal dialysis (PD) in children remains an appropriate therapy for AKI in children for all age groups including neonates. ♦ METHODOLOGY: We retrospectively reviewed all children who have been admitted with AKI at the pediatric nephrology unit, Soba University Hospital, Khartoum, during the period from January 2005 to December 2011. ♦ RESULTS: Over 7 years we recorded 659 children of whom 362 (54.9%) were male. The spectrum of age was variable with the majority being neonates, 178 (27.1%). The average patient admission rate was 94 patients per year, with an estimated incidence of 9.8 patients/million population/year. Common causes of AKI were sepsis 202 (30.8%), acute glomerulonephritis 75 (11.5%) and obstructive uropathy due to stones 56 (8.5%). The most common dialysis modality used was PD, 343 (52.4%), and peritonitis was reported in 53 (15.4%) patients. Recovery from AKI was achieved in 450 (68.9%) children, 37 (5.7%) went into chronic kidney disease (CKD), 33 (5.1%) referred to the pediatric surgery and 194 (29.7%) died. ♦ CONCLUSION: In the setting of developing countries where AKI is a common cause of morbidity and mortality, reasonably equipped renal units with adequately trained medical staff may save many lives. International funding programs for communicable diseases and charity organizations should include AKI management in their programs. Acute PD remains the treatment modality of choice for AKI in developing countries.

Filicide and suicide in a family by paraphenylene diamine poisoning: a mother who committed suicide and poisoned her four children of which one died.

Paraphenylene diamine (PPD) hair dye poisoning is a common health problem in the Middle East and Indian subcontinent. It is the most common cause of suicide intent especially among females. We hereby present a 27-year-old female who presented with a clinical feature of PPD poisoning due to a suicidal attempt, and she died soon after arrival. She had survived a previous suicide attempt with PPD 4 years before. This time she also intentionally tried to kill her four children using PPD. One child died, one recovered after dialysis for acute kidney injury and the other two survived without any further intervention. This case illustrates that PPD poisoning may be used in filicide and suicide intent and that all patients who committed suicide should be reviewed and assessed by clinical psychiatrist.