Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (GN) is a disorder of the kidneys that occurs after infection with certain strains of Streptococcus bacteria.
Alternative Names
Glomerulonephritis - post-streptococcal; Post-infectious glomerulonephritis
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Post-streptococcal GN is a form of
The strep bacterial infection causes the tiny blood vessels called glomeruli in the kidneys to become inflamed, making the kidneys less able to filter and control the content of the urine.
Post-streptococcal GN is uncommon these days because infections that can lead to the disorder are commonly treated with antibiotics. The disorder may develop 1 - 2 weeks after an untreated throat infection, or 3 - 4 weeks after a skin infection.
It may occur in people of any age, but most often occurs in children ages 6 - 10. Although skin and throat infections are not uncommon in children, post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis is a rare complication of these infections.
Risk factors include:
Strep throat - Streptococcal skin infections (such as
impetigo )
Images
Review Date: 11/30/2009
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of
General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington
School of Medicine; Herbert Y. Lin, MD, PHD, Nephrologist,
Massachusetts General Hospital; Associate Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA,
Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
