Acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis in iraqi children

Abstract AR

Objectives : Pediatric patients at Saddam Central Teaching Hospital for Children with signs and symptoms of acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) were studied in order to compare the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory aspects of this disease with those found abroad.

Methods : 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.

Results: 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 the 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.

Conciliation :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.