Pattern of renal diseases in children in midwestern zone of Nigeria.

To document the pattern of childhood renal diseases in the mid-western zone of Nigeria, we evaluated 195 children in the pediatric in-patient service at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) from 1997-2002. There were 250 renal disease episodes that occurred in 195 children. Renal disease accounted for 4.5% of total pediatric admissions. Urinary tract infection (UTI) was found in 82 (32.8%) cases caused largely by Escherichia coli in 39 (47.6%) followed by Staphylococcus aureus in 21 (25.6%). Other morbidities were nephrotic syndrome 61(24.4%), characterized by high incidences of associated UTI and steroid resistance; acute glomerulonephritis (AGN) in 50 (20.0%), complicated commonly by UTI and congestive cardiac failure; chronic renal failure in 24 (9.6%), resulting mainly from obstructive uropathy and glomerulonephritidis and nephro-blastoma in 17 (6.8%). Rare conditions included acute renal failure, urethral prolapse, vesico-ureteric reflux, polycystic kidney disease, urolithiasis and meatal stenosis among others. We conclude that potentially preventable renal diseases are still highly prevalent in our society to warrant community-based interventions. Preventive measures are advocated.