Renal failure (RF) is a condition related to
irreversible kidney damage that can occur
regardless of age, and is a global public health
problem. The early stage is a scarcely
investigated event, and most of the
information referred to is concentrated in
epidemiological studies in adults. During
childhood, only the final stages of the disease
are studied, when replacement therapy
(dialysis or transplantation) is required to
sustain life, which reduces the possibility of
treatment in the early stages. This is still a
disease that, when it occurs in childhood,
affects the entire family unit.1
The prevalence of children affected by RF
in the United States, during 2007, was 84.6
cases per million of the population of a
compatible age (pmpca). In 1998, the
estimated incidence in Japan, was of four new
pmpca cases, while in a survey involving 12
European countries between 1985 and 1990,
the incidence was ten new pmpca cases.1
These numbers represent a challenge for
health services, since the RF is associated
with high mortality and cardiovascular
morbidity, as well as impaired growth, and
the need for psychosocial adjustments that
impact the children's quality of life.
Unfortunately, Brazil does not have exact
data on the prevalence of RF in the childhood,
regardless of the stage of the disease, which
reinforces the need for epidemiological
studies. Among the restrictions imposed by RF
on the child, there are limitations to motor
skills and autonomy in performing basic
activities when compared to others of the
same age, such as in eating, dressing, playing,
and hygiene.3
From this perspective, it is essential to
know how the family experiences caring for a
child with RF at different stages, at
diagnosis, progressive RF, and endstage
renal disease, which includes a form of
substitutive treatment: hemodialysis,
peritoneal dialysis and/or kidney transplant).
Professionals can develop care strategies to
achieve better results in the medium and long
term; preventing injuries from conservative
renal treatment, given that RF entails a
burden to the quality of life, affecting the
daily activities of children and their families. Learn more: https://periodicos.ufpe.br/revistas/revistaenfermagem/article/view/11095/12550
