A Study on the Prevalence of Pre-Renal Azotemia in Children Admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (Code-T0260)

Introduction: Pre-renal azotemia (PRA) is a common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill children, especially those admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Identifying PRA early is crucial for timely management and improving patient outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and associated risk factors of PRA in pediatric patients admitted to the PICU.

Aims and Objectives:

1. To Study The Occurrence of Pre Renal Azotemia Among All The Children Admitted In Picu
2. To Study The Etiology of Children In Prerenal Azotemia

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted over a six-month period in a tertiary care pediatric hospital. Data were collected from all children admitted to the PICU, including demographic details, clinical presentation, laboratory parameters, and treatment outcomes. Pre-renal azotemia was diagnosed based on clinical and laboratory criteria, including elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine levels, without intrinsic renal damage.

Results: Out of 150 children admitted to the PICU, 35 (23.3%) were diagnosed with PRA. The most common risk factors identified were dehydration, septic shock, and hypovolemia. The majority of these patients showed significant improvement with appropriate fluid management and pharmacologic support, with a recovery rate of 91.4%.

Conclusion: Pre-renal azotemia is prevalent in critically ill children in the PICU and is often associated with reversible causes. Early recognition and management are essential to prevent progression to irreversible kidney damage.

Keywords: Pre-renal azotemia, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Acute kidney injury, Risk factors, Dehydration, Sepsis.