Abstract

AN OVERVIEW OF COVID 19 AS TRIGGERING FACTOR FOR PEDIATRIC NEPHROTIC SYNDROME RELAPSE

Yeukai Y. Kasumba, Hongjun Peng and Xiaohui Zhou*

ABSTRACT

Nephrotic syndrome is a common glomerular disorder that affects children worldwide. The syndrome has a good prognosis but relapses are a common occurrence in patients. Several factors have been identified to trigger relapses in nephrotic syndrome and viral URTIs have been widely reported to be common triggers. COVID 19 is a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-COV-2 that is affecting people globally until date. It is mainly characterized by respiratory distress which can sometimes lead to death in severe cases. Although children have shown to be less affected by the disease compared to adults, reports suggest that the COVID 19 can trigger underlying health problems in some children. In this study we briefly explore the clinical course COVID 19 in children with nephrotic syndrome during the pandemic whilst mainly focusing on the impact of the infection in precipitating relapses of nephrotic syndrome in these patients. The review concludes that children suffer less severe COVID 19 illness and and symptoms vary from asymptomatic to mildly symptomatic. Common manifesting symptoms in pediatric nephrotic syndrome patients that experienced a relapse due to COVID 19 include fever, cough, edema and proteinuria. Although the COVID 19 pandemic brought no significant impact on nephrotic syndrome relapse in children, in some cases, SARS-COV-2 can trigger infection associated relapse in some children.

Keywords: Children, COVID 19, Nephrotic syndrome, SARS-COV-2.