Today, kidney issues dramatically impact global health, especially the health of children. In developing countries, millions of people – most of them children – die each year from diseases that are preventable and treatable. For many of these children, kidney problems represent a serious threat to their survival.

HIV Associated Nephropathy (HIVAN)

• Approximately 2.5 million children under age 15 have AIDS
• Kidney disease in HIV is associated with increased mortality
• At least 2 – 10 % of HIV patients, and likely many more, are also affected by HIVAN (confirmed by biopsy)

Diarrheal Disease

• Diarrhea is the #2 cause of death in children worldwide
• Diarrheal disease can result in severe fluid and electrolyte disturbances and acute kidney injury

Low Birth Weight

• Infants with low birth weight are seen in malnourished populations, disproportionately in low income areas
• Low birth weight infants are at greater risk of small kidneys
• These small babies are more likely to develop significant elevations in blood pressure as teenagers

Urological Disease

• Congenital abnormalities of the bladder and kidneys are a major cause of chronic kidney disease in children, and are often not recognized in infancy
• After birth, these children are at risk for obstruction and infection, which worsens their prognosis
• There are many non-invasive tests such as renal ultrasound and urine dipsticks, which can be used to detect kidney and bladder abnormalities in utero and shortly after birth

To download this information, please see our Donation Rationale PDF