What is childhood nephrotic syndrome?

Childhood nephrotic syndrome is not a disease in itself; rather, it is a group of symptoms that

• indicate kidney damage—particularly damage to the glomeruli, the tiny units within the kidney where blood is filtered
• result in the release of too much protein from the body into the urine

When the kidneys are damaged, the protein albumin, normally found in the blood, will leak into the urine. Proteins are large, complex molecules that perform a number of important functions in the body. The two types of childhood nephrotic syndrome are

• primary—the most common type of childhood nephrotic syndrome, which begins in the kidneys and affects only the kidneys
• secondary—the syndrome is caused by other diseases

A health care provider may refer a child with nephrotic syndrome to a nephrologist—a doctor who specializes in treating kidney disease. A child should see a pediatric nephrologist, who has special training to take care of kidney problems in children, if possible. However, in many parts of the country, pediatric nephrologists are in short supply, so the child may need to travel. If traveling is not possible, some nephrologists who treat adults can also treat children.