Childhood nephrotic syndrome is common in Africa where infectious agents are prevalent. This paper reviews the possible aetiological role of infectious agents in childhood nephrotic syndrome in Africa. There is a strong association, possibly causal, between childhood nephrotic syndrome on the one hand and Plasmodium malariae, Schistosoma mansoni and hepatitis B antigens on the other. Beta-haemolytic streptococci are less strongly associated with nephrotic syndrome, and a few other organisms are suspect. The many ubiquitous infectious agents and the prevalence of multiple infections make it difficult to define the role of any single infectious agent or to determine the interaction between the various agents. Control or eradication of infectious diseases should lower the incidence of childhood nephrotic syndrome in Africa.
BT - The Journal of infection C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6373945?dopt=Abstract DA - 1984 Mar DO - 10.1016/s0163-4453(84)92356-9 IS - 2 J2 - J. Infect. LA - eng N2 -Childhood nephrotic syndrome is common in Africa where infectious agents are prevalent. This paper reviews the possible aetiological role of infectious agents in childhood nephrotic syndrome in Africa. There is a strong association, possibly causal, between childhood nephrotic syndrome on the one hand and Plasmodium malariae, Schistosoma mansoni and hepatitis B antigens on the other. Beta-haemolytic streptococci are less strongly associated with nephrotic syndrome, and a few other organisms are suspect. The many ubiquitous infectious agents and the prevalence of multiple infections make it difficult to define the role of any single infectious agent or to determine the interaction between the various agents. Control or eradication of infectious diseases should lower the incidence of childhood nephrotic syndrome in Africa.
PY - 1984 SP - 100 EP - 9 T2 - The Journal of infection TI - The role of infectious agents in the aetiology and pathogenesis of childhood nephrotic syndrome in Africa. VL - 8 SN - 0163-4453 ER -