Nationally ranked: At Children's Wisconsin, our multidisciplinary kidney team provides state-of-the-art care to children with all types of kidney conditions, from the common to complex to children and families from across the globe. We are ranked among the nation's best in the U.S. News & World Report's 2024-25 Best Children's Hospitals report.

Care for all kids: We offer the full spectrum of treatment options for infants, children and adolescents, including:

• Food recommendations
• Medications
• Dialysis
• Kidney transplants

Large, multidisciplinary team: For children who need dialysis, our team of experts are specifically trained in pediatric dialysis. We focus on your child and your entire family. Our team includes:

• Kidney specialists (board-certified pediatric nephrologists)
• Specially trained nurses
• Dietitians
• Social workers
• Child life specialists
• Child psychologists
• Pharmacists

Glomerulonephritis: Glomerulonephritis impacts the ability of your child's kidneys to process urine. Glomerulonephritis can happen as the result of some infections, such as a strep throat, or it can arise from a chronic condition. A diagnosis is made through blood and urine tests — sometimes a kidney biopsy is needed.

Nephrotic syndrome: Nephrotic syndrome is a condition that causes many different symptoms, including swelling of the face, arms, legs and belly. It also causes high levels of protein in the urine and low levels of protein in the blood.

Kidney failure: Kidney failure is when the kidneys don’t work as they should. This is normally caused by an injury or ailment (acute) or a long-term condition (chronic). Acute kidney injury happens suddenly and can sometimes be reversed. Chronic kidney failure develops over time and can lead to the steady loss of use.

Hypertension: Hypertension is also known as high blood pressure. In children, it may be caused by genetics, an underlying kidney disease or weight above the normal range. In rare cases, it’s caused by a heart or endocrine disease.

Hematuria: Hematuria is blood in your child's urine.

Proteinuria: Proteinuria — also known as albuminuria — is too much protein in your child's urine.

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD): PKD is a genetic disorder that causes fluid-filled sacs (cysts) to grow in your child's kidneys. These cysts can impact kidney function, leading in some cases to kidney failure.

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome: Hemolytic uremic syndrome is caused by the abnormal destruction of red blood cells. It normally comes from an infection with a type of E. coli bacteria. It's a common cause of sudden, acute kidney injury in children.

Kidney stones: Kidney stones form when materials normally taken out of your child's body through urine become concentrated and solidify. These substances include calcium, oxalate and phosphates. Most kidney stones are small enough that they can be passed out of the body naturally through the urine. Large stones can get stuck in the urinary tract, causing blockage and severe pain.

Metabolic bone diseases: Metabolic bone diseases are a wide range of conditions that can impact normal bone health. They can be caused by chronic illnesses, issues in mineral metabolism, not enough calcium or vitamin D and some genetic conditions.

Dialysis: Children who have either chronic or acute kidney disease may need dialysis. This procedure removes waste and excess water from the body when the kidneys aren't working well.

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Program: PKD is a rare disease that can lead to both kidney failure and liver failure. Experts in our PKD Program will come up with a treatment plan just for your child.

Prenatal counseling: Through our Fetal Concerns Program, families about to have a baby receive the information, support and, if needed, treatment to manage your baby's kidney issues. When a kidney problem is found and parents want more information, we have prenatal counseling. At this meeting, a plan for after your child's birth and care will be recommended.

Coordination of care: Conditions such as kidney duplication, solitary kidney, cystic kidney, vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and posterior urethral valves may sometimes need care from more than one medical area. To make sure your child gets the care they need, we work closely with other departments at Children’s Wisconsin, including:

• Pediatric urologists for children who require surgery to correct their urinary tract abnormality
• Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
• Dietary counseling and support
• Dedicated mental health care support for children with kidney conditions

Kidney transplant: Sometimes a child needs a kidney transplant to get better. The team of experts in our Pediatric Kidney Transplant Program ensures all aspects of your child's care are coordinated.