Year: 2026 | Month: April | Volume: 16 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 247-250
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20260430
The Heterogeneous Clinical and Laboratory Profile of Pediatric Acute Kidney Injury: A Retrospective Case Series and Audit Across Three Age Groups
Madhav A
Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Travancore Medical College, Kollam, Kerala, India.
Corresponding Author: Madhav A
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) in the pediatric population is a complex syndrome with etiologies and clinical profiles that vary drastically by age. This retrospective case series highlights the heterogeneous presentations of AKI across neonatal, toddler, and older child demographics.
Case Presentation: We retrospectively reviewed the hospital records of children admitted to the pediatric ward and intensive care unit. Informed consent was obtained from parents via telephonic communication and secure Google Forms, with all names and addresses kept strictly confidential. We present three distinct cases: a 4-day-old neonate with sepsis-associated AKI, a 2-year-old toddler with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), and a 9-year-old child with Post-Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis (PSGN).
Discussion: The clinical manifestations ranged from isolated oliguria in the neonate to gross hematuria and hypertension in the older child. A supplemental retrospective analysis of 45 AKI admissions over one year demonstrated that primary etiology significantly dictates recovery time (p = 0.012).
Conclusion: Pediatric AKI cannot be managed with a uniform approach. Early recognition relies on understanding age-specific epidemiological triggers and laboratory phenotypes
Key words: Acute kidney injury, pediatric nephrology, hemolytic uremic syndrome, post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis, neonatal sepsis.