Acute Glomerulonephritis in children

Acute glomerulonephritis (AGN) is a fairly common kidney condition seen in children, where the glomeruli—the tiny filters in the kidneys—suddenly become inflamed. This usually happens after an infection, most often a streptococcal throat or skin infection. The inflammation causes blood and protein to leak into the urine, leading to classic symptoms like dark (tea-colored) urine, puffiness around the eyes, swelling in the body, reduced urine output, and high blood pressure. One of the most common types is post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN), which tends to have a good outcome in most cases. The disease develops because the body’s immune system, while trying to fight off the infection, ends up forming immune complexes that get stuck in the kidneys. These complexes trigger inflammation and reduce how well the kidneys work. Diagnosing AGN involves a mix of urine tests, blood work (including checking kidney function and complement levels like C3), and sometimes throat cultures or ASO titers to confirm a recent strep infection. In unusual or severe cases, a kidney biopsy might be needed to clarify the diagnosis. Most children recover well with supportive care—this includes managing fluids, keeping blood pressure under control, treating the original infection if it’s still present, and closely monitoring kidney function. Rarely, if the disease becomes severe or doesn’t follow the usual course, more intensive treatment may be needed. Follow-up is crucial to make sure the kidneys return to normal and no long-term problems develop. This paper explores AGN in detail—from what causes it and how it presents, to how we diagnose, treat, and follow up on affected children. While the condition can look serious at first, with early recognition and good medical care, most children recover fully without lasting damage.