Children with nephritis often have blood in their urine and elevated blood pressures. The function of the kidneys may be reduced as well. Mayo Clinic Pediatric Nephrologists care for children with all types of nephritis. Collaborative research also takes place for certain of these children. Hematuria is simply the presence of blood in the urine, either in microscopic amounts, or enough blood that it causes the urine to turn red.
Children can have hematuria for a number of different reasons.
Diagnostic testing for causes of hematuria is individualized by members of the Nephrology team. Some of the causes are benign and do not require any treatment. If there is a large enough amount of protein in the urine, children will develop the nephrotic syndrome. Children can have proteinuria for a number of different reasons. For some of these reasons there are treatments, but not all children with proteinuria require treatment.