Question

Your patient has a diagnosis of proteinuria. The patient is 12 years old and appears in good health. Symptoms have been present for approximately one week. The mother states she noticed her son’s legs are swollen, and he has had a sore throat for at least three weeks.

Question: After the blood work is completed, the doctor wants to admit the patient for a complete urinary tract work up. Explain what to expect to this mother and child. Include in your answer specific facts, data, examples, and other information.

Answer 1

Proteinuria is an atypical condition in which the kidney releases too plenty protein into the urine. Proteinuria is also acknowledged as albuminuria, due to the presence of one kind of protein, albumin, in the urine. It is frequently triggered by using dysfunctional kidneys, excessive blood pressure, or diabetes. Proteinuria is a signal of persistent ailment of or injury to the kidneys.

Common symptoms of proteinuria

Any of these common symptoms of proteinuria can be severe:

• Change in urine output
• Frothy urine
• Recent weight change
• Swelling in abdomen
• Swelling in face
• Swelling in feet
• Swelling in hands

Treatments for proteinuria

Treatments that are used to control proteinuria or its underlying causes include:

• Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) medications to lower blood pressure and protect kidney function

• Dietician consultation and a healthy meal plan

• Diuretics

• Insulin or other medications to help control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes

• Low-protein diet

• Low-sodium diet

• Treatment of any underlying chronic conditions

Heavy proteinuria (excretion of more than four grams of protein per day) indicates serious kidney disease and usually produces symptoms, in particular frothy urine. Severe proteinuria can result in protein wasting and renal damage. Treatment of the condition depends on the underlying cause.

Some screening tests include:

• Urine protein – detects the presence of any type of protein that may be in the urine. It can be performed alone on a random urine sample or as part of a urinalysis.
• Urinalysis – an evaluation of a urine sample for several different substances that may be in the urine, including protein. This test may be used as part of a general health exam.
• Urine albumin (microalbumin) – a sensitive test that is used to monitor people with diabetes for small amounts of albumin, the main blood protein, in the urine. Over time, diabetes can begin to affect kidney function and this test is an early indicator that diabetes has caused some kidney damage.