#Headlines

Study reveals prevalent of acute kidney diseases among children

Aug 10, 2022, 11:49 AM

A research conducted by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Unit under the Ministry of Health (MoH), has revealed series of cases Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) among under 5 children in The Gambia

According to a dispatch, an investigation of AKI was started on 19 July 2022 and the report was prepared on 8 August 2022.
At least 32 cases have been reported, with the number of deaths at 28 (CFR=87.5%).

“AKI is an abrupt (within hours) decrease in kidney function, which encompasses both injury (structural damage) and impairment (loss of function). It is a syndrome that rarely has a sole and distinct pathophysiology. Many patients with AKI have a mixed aetiology where the presence of sepsis, ischaemia and nephrotoxicity often co-exist and complicate recognition and treatment.”
“On the 26th July 2022, the Epidemiology and Disease Control (EDC) unit received a report through the Director of Health Services from a concerned nephrologist of a sudden raise in cases of AKI among children aged 5months - 4yrs. Over 35 cases were reported, while only 32 met the event based case definition with 28 deaths (CFR=87.5%). The cases were reported from Western 1, Western 2, Lower River Region and Central River Region.”


Event case definition

Any child less than 5 years of age with sudden failure to pass urine for more than a day with any of the following: fever, diarrhoea or vomiting from the 24th June 2022 to date.