Paediatric Nephrology

This handbook is designed to help the reader understand and manage any condition affecting the kidney in childhood. It is pocket-sized to give easy reference in the clinical setting and uses a system of bullets to highlight the important issues. It is divided into parts which offer advice to the general paediatrician on: * history taking and examination, urinalysis and radiological investigations; * the management of acute emergencies such as fluid, electrolyte and acid-base imbalances and acute renal failure; * renal problems in the neonate; * common childhood conditions such as enuresis, abnormalities of the external genitalia, urinary tract infection, antenatal diagnosis of renal abnormalities and other urological abnormalities; * less common conditions such as hypertension, nephrotic syndrome, acute nephritis, renal calculi, cysts, tumours, tubular disorders, infections, chronic renal failure and inherited and systemic diseases affecting the kidney such as vasculitis and SLE.It includes advice on care of both emergencies and chronic disorders and ranges from common conditions seen by all paediatricians to those seen rarely, and usually cared for in specialised paediatric nephrology centres in collaboration with local units.
Many of the chapters are applicable to the day-to-day care of patients on a general paediatric ward or in the outpatient clinic, although there is also more detailed information for the paediatric nephrologist. For the committed nephrologist there are additional parts on dialysis and transplantation, long-term outcome and palliative care, and drug prescribing in renal disease. The appendix provides useful additional information and protocols. The handbook is up-to-date and evidence-based, and references direct readers to websites where more information can be obtained.