Searching for medical information online can turn up an overwhelming amount of material of very mixed quality. The sites below are ones paediatric nephrologists consider reliable.
There is not always agreement on a single best way to diagnose or treat kidney disease. Everything here is meant to supplement a conversation with your paediatric nephrologist, not to replace it. Your nephrologist knows your child and can discuss what applies to your situation. CAPN has no financial interest in any of these sites.
Start here
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International Pediatric Nephrology Association: for patients and parents
A large collection of patient education material from around the world, searchable by disease, language and country, with information in more than a dozen languages.
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AboutKidsHealth: kidney and nephrology topics
Paediatric health information written and reviewed by clinicians at The Hospital for Sick Children, in plain language and available in several languages. One of the few large Canadian sources written specifically for children and their families.
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The Kidney Foundation of Canada
Support, education and financial assistance programs, with offices in every province.
Nephrotic syndrome and FSGS
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NephCure
Focused on nephrotic syndrome and FSGS, with material written for families as well as for adults with the condition.
Haemolytic uraemic syndrome
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aHUS Canada
A Canadian patient organisation for atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome.
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Mayo Clinic: haemolytic uraemic syndrome
A plain-language overview of typical HUS.
Information on specific rare conditions, including cystinosis, Fabry disease and lupus nephritis, is on the rare kidney diseases page.
Chronic kidney disease and kidney failure
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Kidney School
Short interactive modules covering kidney disease, treatment choices and daily life. Written for adults, but useful for teenagers and parents.
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Renal Support Network health library
Patient-written articles on living with kidney disease.
Eating well with kidney disease
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Kidney Community Kitchen
Recipes and meal planning from the Kidney Foundation of Canada, with tools for adjusting to a renal diet.
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Spice It Up
Canadian recipes developed for people reducing salt, adapted from South Asian and other cuisines.
- Kidney-friendly recipes, American Association of Kidney Patients
Financial help and family support
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Kidney Foundation of Canada: services and support
Short-term financial assistance, peer support and emergency funds, administered provincially.
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Disability tax credit and related benefits
Canada Revenue Agency information on the disability tax credit, the child disability benefit and Registered Disability Savings Plans.
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Make-A-Wish Canada
Grants wishes for children with critical illnesses. Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada merged into Make-A-Wish Canada in 2020.
- Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada
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David Foster Foundation
Financial support for Canadian families with a child undergoing an organ transplant.
If a link here is broken, or your family has found something that belongs on this page, please tell us at contact@capneph.ca.