Asymptomatic proteinuria in children in Calabar

Is Etuk,M Eyong,Pm Ogon

doi:10.4314/gjms.v7i1-2.46920

Abstract

The urine samples of pupils from 4 Primary schools in Calabar were studied for asymptomatic proteinuria. The aim was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic proteinuria in children in calabar. For each pupil, two urine samples were tested for proteinuria using the dipstick. The first urine sample was collected at school and the second was an early morning urine sample brought from home. A total of one thousand two hundred and seventy five children (1,275) were screened. Two hundred and thirty eight (18.6%) children had varying degrees of proteinuria ranging from trace to 500gm/dl in the daytime. Of these, only twenty (1.6%) had significant proteinuria of 30mg/dl to 500mg/dl. A repeat testing with early morning urine still showed significant proteinuria in 1.6% of these children. The prevalence of asymptomatic proteinuria was more in girls (65%) than in boys (35%), giving a male to female ratio of 1:1.9. The study identifies the need to always screen all children for proteinuria before admission into schools, as this will facilitate early detection of nephropathies in them and permit early investigation, treatment and follow-up.

Highlights

Proteins do not normally appear in urine in detectable quantities
The age distribution of the 20 subjects who had significant proteinuria is as shown in table II and age group 8-10 years had the highest number of subjects with proteinuria; 4males and 8 females
Significant proteinuria was more prevalent in girls (65%) than in boys (35%), with a male to female ratio of 1:1.9

Summary

Introduction

Proteins do not normally appear in urine in detectable quantities. When they appear, they represent the ultrafiltrate of plasma proteins (Edren 2003). Benign proteinuria is not associated with signs and symptoms of any renal disease (Edren 2003, Mahmond and Adhan 1998). Since proteinuria occurs in modest quantities in some insidious renal diseases and transiently in some non-renal conditions; children with proteinuria should be investigated and followed up (Hendrickse 1980). M. Eyong, Department of Paediatrics, University Of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria.

Results

Conclusion