Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

What is Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome?

Hemolytic (HEE-mo-LIT-ik) uremic (yoo-REE-mik) syndrome (HUS) is an infrequent condition affecting mostly children below the age of 10. Destruction of red blood cells, damage to the lining of blood vessel walls, and, in severe cases, kidney failure is the characters of Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

There are two main reasons of hemolytic anemia: (1) inherently defective red cells and (2) an environment hostile to red cells. Abnormalities within the red cell are usually congenital and hereditary. Diseases in which the cell membrane is weakened exemplify them, cell metabolism is defective, or hemoglobin is abnormal.

Escherichia colibacterium originate on unhygienic food like meat, dairy products, and juice causes the digestive system, which results in HUS. The indications namely gastrointestinal symptoms like abdominal pain, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea are often seen in the beginning stages of HUS. The duration of this stage is almost a fortnight.

Mostly recovery from this acute colitic phase is the regulation. On the other hand, more severe harms in the bowel and colon may increase in few cases. The children affected severely with HUS might succumb during the beginning acute stage of the disease. About 5 percent and 10 percent is the rate of mortality.

For many children with HUS, the vomiting and diarrhea come to a halt after two or three days. The effects do not disappear even after the gastroenteritis has stopped, the child does not regain original full health, remaining pale, tired, and irritable. The bacteria initially present in the digestive system formulate toxins that enter the bloodstream. These toxins cause destruction of Red blood cells. Minute, mysterious bruises or small clot-sized hemorrhages noticeable in the mucosal lining of the mouth can occur as the toxins also destroy the platelets, which help the clotting system to work properly.
The kidneys get overloaded to take out the wastes and additional liquid from the blood, the reason being that the spoiled red blood cells and other factors will clog the minute blood vessels in the kidneys or cause lesions in the kidneys. The resultant effect is that the child will expel less urine. This condition of incapability of the body to clear the surplus fluid and waste might in turn lead to hypertension or swelling of the hands and feet or universal fluid accumulation (edema) in some cases.

The treatment for HUS is not known yet which will stop the growth of the syndrome. Regrettably, this must run through its course. The aim of all the treatments is lessening the symptoms and signs of this disease. It also defends on going the complications. The additional treatment is looked at maintaining definite levels of fluids and salts, replaced only as per the need. In some cases packed red blood cells are administered through Blood transfusions. The necessity of treatment of high blood pressure is also commonly required. To assist the kidneys to execute the function dialysis is also done. The complications, like neurological complications, demand for supplementary medications.

Almost all the children with HUS who undergo watchful supportive treatment Ninety percent of children with HUS who receive careful supportive care come through the early traumatic stages of the condition. The long –term effects also may not be available on many of them. In a small percentage of them may attract kidney damage. And in these cases permanent kidney failure occurs with out delay or during the course of few years. Majority of them need peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis to expel the wastes and additional extra fluid from their blood. The condition will invite a kidney transplant in many cases.

For more information, contact the following organizations:

Lois Joy Galler Foundation
734 Walt Whitman Road
Suite 300
Melville, NY 11747
Phone: (516) 673-3017
Internet: www.loisjoygaller.org/
National Kidney Foundation
30 East 33rd Street
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 1-800-622-9010
Internet: www.kidney.org/
Additional Information on Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse compile information about kidney and urologic diseases for the Combined Health Information Database (CHID). Federal Government gathers information through health-related agencies. Thus gathered information is formulated into database called CHID. So collected database offers titles, abstracts, and health information accessibility and gives details about health education.
Specialists at the clearinghouse formed an automatic search of CHID to extent with the latest information. One can view the results of the automatic search on Hematuria to acquire this information.
Moreover one can access the CHID Online website in the database easily for all the related information about Hematuria.
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse
3 Information Way
Bethesda, MD 20892-3580
Email: [email protected]
The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC) is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The NIDDK is part of the National Institutes of Health under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Founded in 1987, the clearinghouse provides information about diseases of the kidneys and urologic system to all concerned people with kidney and urologic disorders. The information is passed on to their families, health care professionals, and the public. NKUDIC answers to queries, develops and issues publications. It also coordinates the activity with professional and patient organizations. Another function is to allow Government agencies to organize resources about kidney and urologic diseases.

NIDDK scientists and external experts review the publications created by the clearinghouse with at most care.

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