KARACHI, Jan 17: The Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, in its ongoing education programme on promoting awareness, held a symposium on 'Issues in Paediatric Nephrology.'

Prof Matthias Brandis, Chairman of Paediatric department, Albert-Ludwig University of Preiburg, Germany, and general secretary of the International Paediatric Nephrology Association, spoke on urinary tract infection and Nephrotic Syndrome in children.

Reporting a rise in antibiotic resistance, he said any antibiotic prescribed empirically to treat a urinary tract infection should be changed according to the results of the urine culture and sensitivity of the organism.

Recurrent and complicated UTIs could lead to kidney scarring and every effort should be made to control them. The most common bacteria responsible for UTIs in children were E.Coli, Enterococcus and Pseudomonas, he said, adding nearly 50 per cent of these cases were resistant to Ampicllin.

Prof Matthias also talked on risk factors for UTIs, which included age (between two and eight years), gender (females being more susceptible), and any obstruction or congenital abnormality in the urinary tract.

Stone disease was another important factor, which was more common in the tropical countries, he added.

On Nephrotic Syndrome, leakage of protein from the kidney in urine, he said it lead to generalised swelling and decreased proteins in the blood, thus being harmful to health. Early diagnose and prompt treatment was necessary to prevent kidney failure in these cases, he added.

In children less than one year age, genetic mutations played an important role, he said, adding that it had a higher

incidence in communities where cousin marriages were common.

Prof Matthias also discussed management of complex cases of Nephrotic Syndrome, which did not respond to usual drug therapy with cortisone.

The session concluded with an interactive discussion on cases with resistant UTIs and Nephrotic Syndrome. A large number of senior and trainee Nephrologists from the city and SIUT participated in the symposium.-PPI