Some children with PIGN do not have any symptoms, especially in the early stages of the disease.

For those that do, common symptoms may include:

• blood in the urine (haematuria) – you cannot always see the blood, but if there is a lot, the urine may be coloured red or dark brown (like a cola drink)
• protein in the urine (proteinuria) – you cannot usually see the protein but it can be found on a simple urine test. If there is a lot of protein, it can make the urine look frothy.
• urinating less often or smaller amounts
• swelling or puffiness (oedema) in different parts of the body, especially around the eyes, legs and feet. This happens because there is too much fluid (liquid) in the body’s soft tissues.
• feeling tired, lacking in energy or having difficulty concentrating
• decreased appetite (not wanting to eat)
• nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting (being sick),
• diarrhoea
• pain in the tummy
• headaches that keep coming back or that do not go away.
• pain, stiffness or swelling of the joints

A few children get a large swelling around their tummy (ascites). This happens when fluid builds up in the peritoneal cavity, which is the area around the organs in the abdomen (tummy).

A very small number of children feel breathless. This happens when fluid builds up around their lungs.

If your child has PIGN and a very swollen tummy or feels breathless, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Complications of PIGN

PIGN can cause hypertension – high blood pressure. In some children, this causes headaches, vomiting or blurred (fuzzy) vision. Hypertension that lasts a long time can also increase the risk of getting heart disease in adulthood. Your doctor or nurse can check your child’s blood pressure and help them to keep it within a safe range.

Occasionally, PIGN gets worse quickly – this is called rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) or crescentic glomerulonephritis. If this happens, your child will need to take medicines and may need more intensive treatment, such as dialysis. Many children with RPGN will get better, but a few will need long-term dialysis and kidney transplant.

PIGN can cause acute kidney injury (AKI) which is when the kidneys quickly stop working as well as they should, over a short time.

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