Retrospective Audit of a Pediatric Nephrology Clinic at a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Background and Aim: To provide basic renal data in the pediatric age group in a poorly resourced hilly state of India, which might be used by researchers and health planners. Methods: The case records of children presenting to pediatric nephrology clinic from April 2016 to March 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. Registered cases were broadly categorized into various groups and subgroups based upon clinical presentation and investigation findings. Results: Two hundred and five children presented to the pediatric nephrology clinic with renal diseases over a period of one year. Registered children presenting to pediatric nephrology clinic were broadly categorized into 10 groups. Nephrotic syndrome (NS) was the most common renal disease accounting for 45.6% of registered cases followed by congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) comprising 26.8% of the cases. Edema was the most common presenting symptom and proteinuria was the most common urinary finding. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis was the most common histopathological finding reported on renal histopathology and peritoneal dialysis was found to be the most frequently used modality for renal replacement therapy. Conclusion: Our data reflects geographical variations of the patterns of renal diseases in a resource poor hilly state of northern India. Improvement in pediatric renal services and targeted training of healthcare workers would help in early diagnosis and treatment of children with renal diseases resulting in reduction in their morbidity and mortality.