Tropical diseases-associated kidney injury

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Infectious and parasitic diseases are important morbidity factors and mortality causes, accounting for more than 13 million deaths a year - one in two deaths in developing countries. Despite health providing expansion throughout, large populations are still at risk in many areas of Asia, Middle East, Africa and Americas. Tuberculosis, specially, poses new challenges, as nearly two billion people may have latent disease. Malaria kills over one million people a year - most of them young children. Most malaria deaths occur in Africa, where it accounts for one in five of all childhood deaths - women are especially vulnerable during pregnancy. Many of these illnesses may be accompanied by acute or chronic kidney involvement. CONTENTS: Acute kidney injury (AKI) and tubulointerstitial defects are frequently observed in the course of leptospirosis, malaria, and the several viral hemorrhagic fevers. All known varieties of glomerular lesions have been observed, with clinical presentations ranging from mild proteinuria or hematuria, to nephrotic syndrome. Tubular dysfunction may also occur, particularly in visceral leishmaniasis and leprosy, where distal tubular acidosis may be an early clinical expression of the disease. CONCLUSION: To summarize, almost every known infectious and parasitic disease may present with kidney involvement, varying from mild to extreme, and additionally burdening usually overwhelmed health services.