Growth and development of the child with renal disease

Abstract

Normal growth and development is a central goal in the management of children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This chapter will review the growth patterns observed in children with CKD as well as the causes of growth impairment and the signs and causes of protein energy wasting (PEW) in pediatric CKD. The methods for assessing growth and nutritional status, along with the limitations of these measures in CKD, will also be reviewed. Finally, management strategies to optimize growth among children with CKD will be outlined. However, before considering the growth abnormalities associated with childhood CKD, normal growth and development and the tools available to assess the adequacy of the growth of an individual child will be reviewed.