sudden appearance of edema, hematuria, proteinuria, and hypertension. Postinfectious glomerulonephritis occurs after infection, usually with a nephritogenic strain of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus.

Epidemiology

• M:F = 2:1
• APSGN is the most common glomerulonephritis in children.
• The median age of presentation in childhood is age 6-8 years, with the condition being extremely rare prior to age 2 years
• outbreaks in Northern Australian Aboriginal population

Aetiology

• group A beta-hemolytic streptococci, type 12 (which causes pharyngitis) and type 49 (which causes impetigo)
• 5 to 10% of patients with streptococcal pharyngitis and about 25% of those with impetigo develop APSGN.
• A latency period of 6 to 21 days between infection and glomerulonephritis onset is typical, but latency may extend up to 6 weeks.

Pathophysiology

• remains to be determined. theories include (1) glomerular trapping of circulating immune complexes and (2) in situ immune antigen-antibody complex formation resulting from antibodies reacting with either streptococcal components deposited in the glomerulus or with components of the glomerulus itself, called “molecular mimicry.”

Risk Factors

Same as streptococcal infection

• Overcrowding