🩺 General MedicineRenalStudentInternResident

Acute Glomerulonephritis

Also known as: AGN · nephritic syndrome · post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis

Acute glomerular inflammation producing the nephritic picture — haematuria (often smoky/cola-coloured urine), hypertension, oedema and some renal impairment. Post-streptococcal GN is the classic paediatric cause; watch for rapidly progressive GN.

Source · Reviewed 2026-08-15 · v1.0— AI-assisted draft — verify against the cited guideline before clinical use.

⚕️ Education only — not medical advice. Verify against the latest official guideline and your local protocol; confirm every drug dose against the cited source before clinical use.

Who gets it

Children after a streptococcal throat or skin infection (post-streptococcal GN); also IgA nephropathy, vasculitis and lupus across ages.

Red flags — escalate / refer

A rapidly rising creatinine (rapidly progressive GN), severe hypertension or encephalopathy, pulmonary oedema/fluid overload, or oliguria → urgent nephrology.

Work-up / diagnosis

1Urinalysis (haematuria, red-cell casts, proteinuria), renal function, electrolytes and blood pressure.
2Evidence of streptococcal infection (ASO/anti-DNase B) with low complement (C3); a nephritic screen (ANA, ANCA, anti-GBM, complement) and renal biopsy when the cause is unclear or RPGN is suspected.

Management — overview

Post-streptococcal GN is usually supportive and self-limiting — salt and fluid restriction, diuretics and antihypertensives for overload/BP.
Treat any ongoing streptococcal infection.
For other causes, treat the specific disease (immunosuppression for vasculitis, lupus or RPGN); dialysis for refractory overload or uraemia.

In-depthFull dosing & advanced protocol

Drug dosing

Loop diuretic + antihypertensive

Fluid overload and hypertension

Adult dose: Per protocol and fluid status
Route: Oral / IV

WHOWHO Model List of Essential Medicines (electronic EML) (2025 (24th)) ↗

Cause-specific immunosuppression

Vasculitis / lupus / rapidly progressive GN

Adult dose: Per KDIGO glomerular-disease guidance
Route: Per regimen

OtherKDIGO Clinical Practice Guideline for Acute Kidney Injury ↗

Nephritic vs nephrotic, and don't miss RPGN

The nephritic syndrome (haematuria, hypertension, mild oedema) differs from the nephrotic (heavy proteinuria, hypoalbuminaemia).
Post-streptococcal GN has a good prognosis in children and usually needs only supportive care.
A rising creatinine means rapidly progressive GN until proven otherwise — urgent biopsy and immunosuppression; a low C3 narrows the differential.

OtherKDIGO Clinical Practice Guideline for Acute Kidney Injury ↗

References

Guidelines change. If something here is out of date, tell us — we keep these current.

🚩 Report outdated / suggest update

More protocols

HypertensionPersistently raised arterial pressure (≥140/90 mmHg) — a leading, modifiable cause of stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney disease.DengueAn Aedes-borne viral febrile illness. Most cases self-limit, but plasma leakage can cause severe dengue — early recognition of warning signs and careful fluid therapy save lives.MalariaA mosquito-borne protozoal (Plasmodium) febrile illness. In India P. vivax and P. falciparum predominate; prompt diagnosis and species-specific treatment prevent severe disease.

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👤 Who gets it

🚩 Red flags — escalate / refer

🔎 Work-up / diagnosis

🧭 Management — overview

💊 Drug dosing

Loop diuretic + antihypertensive

Cause-specific immunosuppression

📈 Nephritic vs nephrotic, and don't miss RPGN

📚 References

More protocols

👤 Who gets it

🚩 Red flags — escalate / refer

🔎 Work-up / diagnosis

🧭 Management — overview

💊 Drug dosing

Loop diuretic + antihypertensive

Cause-specific immunosuppression

📈 Nephritic vs nephrotic, and don't miss RPGN

📚 References

More protocols

Who gets it

Red flags — escalate / refer

Work-up / diagnosis

Management — overview

Drug dosing

Nephritic vs nephrotic, and don't miss RPGN

References

Who gets it

Red flags — escalate / refer

Work-up / diagnosis

Management — overview

Drug dosing

Nephritic vs nephrotic, and don't miss RPGN

References