Pediatric Nephrology
When your child has a kidney or urinary concern, you want expert care. The pediatric nephrology team at OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois provides comprehensive, compassionate care for children of all ages. As the only full-service pediatric nephrology program in Peoria, Illinois, we offer advanced diagnostics, dialysis and transplant coordination – so you can access all of your child’s care in one place.
What is pediatric nephrology?
Pediatric nephrology focuses on diagnosing and treating kidney and urinary tract conditions (UTI) in children. A pediatric nephrologist is a specialized kidney doctor for kids who has expertise in caring for growing bodies and complex kidney diseases. Children’s nephrology services cover a wide range of conditions, including high blood pressure, UTIs, nephrotic syndrome, lupus, end-stage renal disease and more.
What to Expect at Your Appointment
Your first visit begins with a full review of your child’s symptoms, medical history and the reason for referral. Diagnostic testing may include blood and urine tests, kidney imaging or 24-hour blood pressure monitoring. We take time to explain every step and answer your questions. We work with you to create a personalized and clear care plan and outline next steps. We care for children in both inpatient and outpatient settings and coordinate closely with other pediatric specialists to ensure your child receives seamless care.
Meet Your Care Team
Your care team includes pediatric nephrologists, advanced practice providers, pediatric dialysis nurses, a renal dietitian and social workers to help coordinate all aspects of your child’s care. As the region’s only pediatric nephrology program offering both dialysis and transplant coordination, we make it easier for your family to access complete kidney care in one connected system.
Conditions We Treat
We provide comprehensive care for your child’s kidney and urinary conditions, including:
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
- End-stage renal disease (ESRD)
- Glomerulonephritis
- Hypertension
- Kidney stones
- Lupus and immune-related kidney disorders
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Oligonephropathy of prematurity
- Reflux nephropathy and obstructive uropathy
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Evaluations and Services We Provide
Testing and evaluations
- 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
- Blood and urine testing
- Kidney imaging
- Renal biopsy, when needed
Treatments and specialty services
- Inpatient and outpatient dialysis, including peritoneal dialysis, in-center and home hemodialysis and continuous renal replacement therapy
- Nutrition counseling and social work support
- Plasma exchange
- Post-transplant care
- Pre-transplant evaluation and referral to transplant surgery
Collaboration with Other Specialties
We work closely with pediatric surgery and pediatric urology to ensure your child receives coordinated, whole-person care.
Kidney Transplant Referrals to Pediatric Surgery
We complete the initial workup and refer children who need transplant surgery to our pediatric surgery team members. After surgery, our team continues to manage your child’s long-term kidney care.
Integrated with Pediatric Urology
Many kidney concerns overlap with urinary tract issues. We collaborate closely with pediatric urology to diagnose and treat conditions such as reflux nephropathy and obstructive uropathy.
Ask for a Referral
Need compassionate, effective treatment for your child’s kidney condition? Contact your primary care provider about a referral to pediatric nephrology. Need a primary care provider? Browse our directory.