Dhaka: Kidney disease has emerged as a serious public health problem as nearly 50 lakh children in the country are now somehow suffering from kidney ailment, leading health experts said on Saturday.

Alarming rise of kidney disease among the children is a global phenomenon and early detection can save millions of children’s lives, they told a symposium on “Difficult Nephrotic Syndrome and Paediatric Renal Transplantation” in the Shaheed Dr Milon Hall of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

BSMMU Vice Chancellor Dr Pran Gopal Datta, Eminent Child Specialist MR Khan, Kidney specialist Md Habibur Rahman, among others, addressed the symposium with Chairman of Department of Paediatric Nephrology of BSMMU Golam Muin Uddin in the chair.

Medical professionals from home and abroad and students of different medical colleges attended the symposium.

Golam Muin Uddin said “About 5 to 7 percent of children attending paediatric outpatient clinic have renal problem. A significant number of our admitted patients also suffer from resistant nephritic and ultimately develop chronic kidney disease, hypertension, heart problems and suffer from early loss of life.”

Worldwide the majority of individuals with early stage of kidney disease remain undiagnosed, he said adding whereas prevention and early detection can reduce morbidity and mortality from these diseases.