Acute kidney injury in children with acute gastroenteritis in Bacha Khan Medical Complex, Swabi

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious complication that can occur in children with acute gastroenteritis (AGE). Despite its high prevalence, AKI in children with AGE is frequently overlooked and underreported. The development of AKI in these children may be linked to factors such as severe dehydration, prolonged symptoms, or electrolyte imbalances. Objective: To find the prevalence of AKI and its associated factors in children aged 6 months to 3 years with AGE at Bacha Khan Medical Complex, District Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, including 151 children admitted with AGE. Data were collected on demographic information, clinical symptoms, and laboratory findings, including serum creatinine and electrolyte levels. The occurrence of AKI was identified based on elevated serum creatinine levels and other clinical parameters. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test and significance was set at a p-value of <0.05. Results: The study found that 8.6% of the participants developed AKI. A significant association was observed between elevated serum creatinine levels and the development of AKI (p < 0.001). Additionally, a longer duration of hospital stay was significantly correlated with AKI (p=0.037). However, dehydration (p=0.208) and electrolyte imbalances (p=0.735) did not show statistically significant associations with AKI. Conclusion: While dehydration and electrolyte imbalances did not show statistically significant associations with the development of AKI in this study, it remains important to carefully monitor kidney function and fluid status in children with AGE. Early identification of risk factors and the timely management of dehydration may still contribute to better clinical outcomes.