Acute glomerulonephritis in Guyana - abstract

ABSTRACT

Although it is well known that acute glomerulonephritis occurs quite commonly in Trinidad, and to a much lesser extent in Jamaica, there has surprisingly been a paucity of information concerning the prevalence of acute glomerulonephritis in other parts of the Caribbean. To help correct that deficiency, this paper describes a study of 154 children seen with acute glomerulonephritis over the last four years at the Georgetown Hospital. Their ages ranged from 1 year 9 months to 14 years with the greatest percentage of cases (48 percent) occurring in the 5 - 10 years age group. The sex incidence was approximately equal. Nearly 60 percent of the children were East Indians, and 65 percent of the cases admitted came from the rural areas. The commonest presenting feature was swelling of the face and or feet. Over a third of the children developed hypertension and 62 of148 children in whom the blood urea nitrogen was estimated had a raised level. There was evidence of skin infection, either past or present, in 68 percent of the children, and of those with skin infections 16 percent were noted to have scabies. There were no deaths and the prognosis in those followed for over a year has been excellent. As skin infections seem to be the predisposing factor leading to acute glomerulonephritis the implications for public health measures are discussed (AU)