P96.0: Congenital renal failure

The kidneys’ function is impaired. The impairment is congenital.

There are normally 2 kidneys in the body. They filter blood and create urine. They thus help to detoxify the body. Furthermore, the kidneys regulate the blood pressure and salt content in the blood, among other things.

While developing in the womb, many different types of tissue develop in the body. The organs and body parts develop out of the various types of tissue. If there are any disorders during development, defects may result.

Congenital defects can be a reason why the baby’s kidney function is limited. Congenital disorders of the kidneys or urinary tract can also be a reason. The function of the kidneys can also be impaired if the blood circulation in the kidneys is insufficient. This can be the case, for example, with congenital disorders of the heart or blood vessels. Another cause may be that the mother's antibodies are damaging the child's kidneys. Under certain circumstances, the mother's antibodies can get into the child's blood.

If the kidneys are only working to a limited degree, harmful substances can accumulate in the body. The blood pressure or the levels of particular substances in the blood may also change. So if the kidney function is limited there can be various indications in the child. There may be vomiting, for example. The child may refuse to feed, and be more lethargic than usual. The child may develop more slowly than other children of the same age. The child may also excrete little or no urine. And the child's skin may turn yellowish.