Boy Diagnosed with Acute Glomerulonephritis After Rapid Weight Gain and Swelling in Vietnam

In Ho Chi Minh City, a 12-year-old boy named Quan experienced difficulty breathing and swelling all over his body. He gained an astonishing 4 kg in just three days, had high blood pressure, and was diagnosed with acute glomerulonephritis caused by streptococcus.

Quan’s symptoms began three weeks prior when he had a fever and cough, which his family initially believed to be a sore throat. They treated him with fever-reducing medicine, and after the fever and cough subsided, he returned to school without any issues. However, last week Quan started experiencing facial swelling, reduced urination, rapid weight gain up to 55 kg, and overall body swelling. His family brought him from Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh City for a medical examination upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport; Quan suffered from headaches and difficulty breathing, requiring emergency treatment at Tam Anh General Hospital.

On April 17th, Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh Hien of the Department of Pediatrics explained that Quan presented with rapid breathing, body edema, gross hematuria (blood in the urine), and high blood pressure. The doctor identified pleural effusion (fluid accumulation in the lungs), diffuse interstitial lung damage (damage to the small air sacs in the lungs), and a urine test revealed hematuria (blood in the urine) and nephrotic-range proteinuria (high levels of protein in the urine). Quan was diagnosed with acute glomerulonephritis following a streptococcal infection.

Glomerulonephritis is a condition where the kidneys struggle to filter waste and fluid from the body due to damage to the glomeruli. In Quan’s case, complications like high blood pressure, difficulty breathing, and acute pulmonary edema occurred because the disease was not identified early on. The doctor emphasized that uncontrolled hypertension poses significant risks for children with acute glomerulonephritis.

Treatment for pediatric patients involves diuretics (water-removing medication), antihypertensive medications (to lower blood pressure), low-salt diet (to reduce fluid retention), among others. Significant improvements were noted by day four: Quan’s blood pressure was under control; edema reduced; weight gradually returned to normal; blood tests showed no worsening kidney damage; he was discharged from the hospital but scheduled for follow-up appointment within a week.

Acute glomerulonephritis is one of the most common kidney diseases affecting children aged 2 to 12 years old who often develop it following acute respiratory or skin infections. Symptoms manifest suddenly with edema (swelling), oliguria (reduced urination), hematuria (blood in urine), elevated blood pressure potentially leading to life-threatening complications.

Timely diagnosis is crucial as it can prevent kidney failure; therefore parents should seek medical attention promptly if their child exhibits symptoms like fever, swelling