Written By: Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Updated : October 30, 2017 12:05 PM IST
Usually, chronic kidney disease may not become apparent until your kidneys are damaged badly.
Did you know 1 in 6500 children suffer from end-stage renal disease (ESRD)? Moreover, studies reveal that ESRD patients have a higher rate of mortality and morbidity. Unlike earlier, when ESRD was considered non-treatable, currently, kidney disease can be effectively dealt with. Medical advancements in surgical techniques and rising technology have dramatically brought down the mortality rates of children with chronic renal failure. Generally, parents are left worried, or confused when they are told that their child needs to undergo kidney transplantation. Adding to the worry is the limited awareness of the condition and the treatment facilities available while choosing the right hospital. Here are few things you need to know if your kid has to undergo a kidney transplant from our expert Dr Saumil Gaur, Consultant Pediatric & Transplant Nephrologist, Rainbow Children s Hospital, Bangalore.
1. It is important to note that the appropriate doctor to organize kidney transplant in children is Pediatric Nephrologist and not adult nephrologist as there is a difference between child and adult physiology. This is an important piece of information most parents are unaware of. Here's more on things you should know about kidney transplants.
2. The most common causes of kidney failure in youngsters could be genetic diseases like congenital anomalies of kidneys in which there is an aberrant formation of kidneys in uterus leading to progressive kidney failure in childhood. Other common causes are Nephritis / Nephrotic syndrome in which the tiny filtering units called nephrons in the kidney are damaged.
3. Once the kidneys have failed the options for survival are limited as the blood purification process halts. In such situation, purification is done using dialysis. Dialysis is a temporary process and is associated with suffering for children if used for long-term which compromises the quality of life. Hence current medical recommendations always suggest early kidney transplant in children to improve their quality of life. Here's more on dialysis or kidney transplant: What should you choose and why.
4. Kidney transplantation is required when the function of the kidney is low enough to sustain the purification of blood and this usually happens when the function of kidney falls below 10-15% of normal. Any child who is more than 10-12 kg and is more than 2 years can undergo transplant and accept and accommodate adult kidney in his body.
5. Lastly, when choosing doctors and hospital to get a kidney transplant, remember to pick the best. One of the most important condition is to choose a dedicated pediatric kidney transplant team led by pediatric nephrologist. SO do your bit of research before you zero down on one. (Read: Early kidney transplant must for children with renal failure)
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