Pediatric Nephrology

Kidney disease can affect children of all ages. Our pediatric nephrologists offer comprehensive care for acute and chronic kidney conditions for children up to 18 years old. Our services are affiliated with Lehigh Valley Reilly Children's Hospital.

Pediatric kidney disease is a group of conditions that affect how a child’s kidneys function. Acute (short term) and chronic (lifelong) kidney disease can impact a child’s life in significant ways.

You can trust Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) and our pediatric nephrology team to diagnose, treat and manage the full spectrum of pediatric kidney conditions. We have experience caring for young children through late adolescence.

You will be involved in the care process because we believe patient and family education leads to better results. This approach helps to maximize your child’s kidney function and quality of life.

Get expert pediatric nephrology care at LVHN

When you choose LVHN for your child’s nephrology care, they benefit from our:

Pediatric expertise

Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital is the region’s only institutional member of the Children’s Hospital Association, signifying our commitment to providing top-level, innovative care. Our board-certified pediatric specialists are passionate about ensuring a healthy future for our smallest patients.

Highly trained pediatric experts

At LVHN, you’re cared for by doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and management of pediatric kidney disorders. Pediatric nephrologists are doctors who have received at least three more years of training in pediatric nephrology, leading to an expert level of care.

Personalized care plans

Your child’s treatment will depend on the type of disorder and the cause of your child’s symptoms. Your doctor will develop a care plan that uses research-backed standards to best manage your child’s condition. Your doctor may recommend:

  • Close monitoring, with frequent blood and urine tests

  • Dialysis, a treatment that uses a machine to filter your child’s blood

  • Kidney transplantation, a surgery that replaces a diseased kidney with a healthy donor kidney

Child-focused surgery centers

If your child needs surgery, it will happen in a facility that’s designed to meet children’s needs while offering families optimal comfort. Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital and our outpatient J.B. and Kathleen Reilly Children’s Surgery Center offer high-quality care delivered by pediatric-trained specialists and nurses.

Education and support

Many pediatric kidney conditions are lifelong. The more you know, the better you can help your child manage their health and minimize potential complications. We prioritize patient education for this reason, working closely with you to ensure you have all the information you need to manage your child’s care.

 

Types of kidney disorders in children

At LVHN, we offer specialized care for children of all ages who are affected by a range of kidney conditions, including:

  • Acute and chronic kidney failure

  • High blood pressure

  • Hereditary (inherited) kidney diseases, such as polycystic kidney disease

  • Kidney stones

  • Hematuria (blood in the urine)

  • Urinary tract infections