Nutrition, Growth, and Development

Abstract

Normal growth and development are central goals in the management of children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Nutritional adequacy plays an influential role in the achievement of these goals. 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. Management strategies to optimize growth and nutrition among children with CKD, including the use of recombinant growth hormone, will be outlined. Finally, the chapter will conclude with information pertaining to the neurodevelopment of the child with CKD.