A Welsh mum says her child was nearly left with permanent kidney damage after contracting Post-Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis (PSGN) from scarlet fever. Nearly four years ago, her son caught scarlet fever for the second time, just months after recovering from the first round of infection. This time, it resulted in him having Glomerulonephritis, which is inflammation of the tiny filters in the kidneys which was caused from the Strep A infection.
The 36-year-old from the Vale of Glamorgan wants to raise awareness of other implications scarlet fever can have on children after a recent rise in reported cases this winter. She said: "I noticed when he had scarlet fever that he started having dark urine and puffy eyes. I took him to the doctors and they immediately told us to go to the hospital. He had inflamed kidneys from Strep A.
"He then had to have yearly blood tests to check his kidney function for the next two years after having scarlet fever. He was also on antibiotics for six months." Thankfully, her now seven-year-old boy is healthy.
READ MORE: Scarlet fever: What are the symptoms, how infectious is it, and how to treat it
She added: "I want to raise awareness of what it can do because I haven't read anything about this effect it can have on children. A lot of people won't take their children to the doctor if they have blood in their urine, they might just think it's a water infection. But this can happen from scarlet fever."
She says that her son, who was four years old at the time, had the noticeable signs of scarlet fever, which is a sandpaper-like rash and strawberry tongue, but when he had it a second time, it stayed in his immune system, causing the inflamed kidneys. As a result of his mum's quick actions - noticing his dark urine - he was sent to Noah's Ark kidney unit for five days to help get rid of the infection. She added: "It didn't cause any permanent damage because we were seen straight away. The doctor was good and knew what it was immediately. If I had left it, he could have had permanent damage."
She added: "He was really ill with scarlet fever - but back then it wasn't as scary, as we didn't hear about children dying from it." She explained that she had no idea about Post-Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis before her son had it and hopes help other parents to recognise the signs.
How you get PSGN?
The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions says that PSGN can develop after infections caused by bacteria called group A Streptococcus (group A strep). These infections include strep throat, scarlet fever and impetigo. PSGN results from the body’s immune system fighting off those three infections.
After the start of strep throat or scarlet fever symptoms, it can take around 10 days for PSGN to develop. After the start of impetigo symptoms, it takes about three weeks for PSGN to develop. It is an immune response and not an infection, so people cannot catch PSGN from someone else. But, those with a group A Strep infection can spread the bacteria to other people.
Symptoms that usually point to kidney issues
Symptoms of PSGN can include:
- Dark, reddish-brown urine
- Edema (swelling), especially in the face, around the eyes, and in the hands and feet
- Decreased need to pass urine or decreased amount of urine
- Fatigue due to mild anaemia (feeling tired due to low iron levels in the blood)
According to the NHS, depending on your type of glomerulonephritis, other parts of your body can be affected and cause symptoms such as:
- rashes
- joint pain
- breathing problems
- tiredness
In addition, someone with PSGN usually has:
- Protein in the urine which may make it appear frothy. If a lot of protein leaks into your urine, swelling of the legs or other parts of the body can also develop. This is known as nephrotic syndrome.
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Some people may have no symptoms or symptoms that are so mild that they don’t seek medical help.
Treatment
You should see a GP if you see blood in your urine. It does not always mean you have glomerulonephritis, but the NHS says the cause should be investigated. A GP who suspects you have glomerulonephritis will usually organise for a blood test and a urine test to be taken, and if kidney issues need to be checked out further you could have an ultrasound scan or biopsy.
Treatment of PSGN focuses on managing symptoms as needed:
- Decreasing swelling by limiting salt and water intake or by prescribing a diuretic (medication that increases the flow of urine)
- Managing high blood pressure through blood pressure medication
People with PSGN who still have group A strep bacteria in their throat are often provided antibiotics
Most people who develop PSGN recover within a few weeks without any complications. While rare, long-term kidney damage, including kidney failure, can occur. These rare complications are more common in adults than children. For more information, visit here.
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