Chronic Renal Failure in Children of Benin, Nigeria

To evaluate the patterns of chronic renal failure in children in our center, we studied prospectively the etiology and outcome of all the cases referred to us as renal disease between 1997-2002. There were 24 children;14 (58.3%) males and 10 (41.7%) females with a mean age of 11.2 + 0.97 years (range; 0.08-16.0 years). The estimated incidence was 1.7 new cases per million-child population and the prevalence was 4 per million populations. The leading causes of renal failure were glomerulonephritidis in 14 (58.3%) children and posterior urethral valve in 8 (33.3%). Most of the patients came from poor socio-economic background. Generalized body swelling 11 (45.8%), abdominal swelling 9 (37.5%) and paleness 7 (29.2%) were the commonest presenting complaints. Late presentation and severely compromised renal function were common features. The mortality rate was 58.3%. We conclude that there is an increased mortality rate in children with renal disease in our country due to the dearth of facilities for renal replacement therapy coupled with poverty and late referrals.