Symptoms and differential diagnostic procedures in children with renal disease

Symptoms and aetiology of renal diseases in childhood are different from th ose in adults. This fact must be considered in diagnostic procedures. For c hildren, renal function is an essential factor for normal body composition, growth and puberty. Chronic renal insufficiency is threatening these impor tant aspects of children's well-being from birth to the end of somatic deve lopment. So, medical and psychosocial care of childhood renal disease has t o consider special aspects of infancy, childhood and adolescence.