Your child receives care from recognized leaders in children’s kidney care. U.S. News & World Report ranks our Pediatric Nephrology Program among the best in the nation. This distinction is given only to the top children’s hospitals. We're proud to uphold the highest standards.

At UC Davis Health, your child has a team of dedicated professionals with diverse expertise on their side. Our pediatric nephrologists partner with pediatric urologists, transplant surgeons, dietitians, psychologists and others. Together, we work closely with you to promote your child’s physical, social and mental health needs and well-being.

If your child needs a kidney transplant, they’re in expert hands with our team. Our Transplant Center is nationally recognized for quality care and excellent outcomes. We work hard to ease the stress that waiting for a transplant and major surgery can cause — for you and your child.

We recognize your child has unique needs, so we provide customized multidisciplinary care. At our nephrology clinics, your child receives careful diagnosis and personalized treatment that focuses on their well-being. Each clinic focuses on a specific area of children’s kidney care, from expert consultations to hemodialysis and kidney transplant.

Children are usually most comfortable at home, so we take extra steps to make that possible. We’re the only program in the region that offers at-home peritoneal dialysis for all children, including babies. You receive training and support so you can safely care for your child at home while they await their transplant.

At UC Davis Health, we look toward the future to advance care and provide the best treatments for your child today. Our researchers lead and participate in national clinical trials and research efforts. Our active involvement means eligible children may receive promising new pediatric therapies before they’re widely available.

AKI is a sudden decrease in how well your child’s kidney works. This is usually due to a health issue such as sepsis (life-threatening immune response to infection), autoimmune conditions or exposure to toxic (poisonous) substances. Without treatment, AKI can cause serious complications. 

CKD in children occurs over months or years, with symptoms ranging from none to behavioral issues to serious heart problems. Some children with CKD will need dialysis or a kidney transplant. With the right care, children with this condition can live a full, active life.

Kidney stones form when minerals and salts build up in your child's urine. If they become too large, they can get stuck in your child’s urinary tract and cause pain or bleeding. A skilled pediatric urology team can remove kidney stones or break them up into smaller pieces using minimally invasive (fewer incisions) procedures. 

PKD is a condition passed down in families (inherited) that leads to fluid-filled cysts form in your child’s kidneys. These cysts can cause pain and interfere with how your child's kidneys work. Early testing and treatment can control the growth of cysts and help delay or prevent kidney failure.

Our team assesses and treats all types of childhood kidney damage and disease. We track your child’s treatment progress with state-of-the-art imaging services, including CT and MRI. And we make care convenient by offering telemedicine options whenever your child doesn’t need to see us in-person.

A kidney transplant is a lifesaving procedure for children with kidney failure — and we appreciate that it’s a major step to take. Our Transplant Center is recognized among the best in the nation because we have low rates of organ rejection and infection. We provide comfort, guidance and support at every step to make the process easier on you and your child.

Children with the most critical needs receive continuous hemodialysis in our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. And we believe even the smallest children awaiting transplant can often receive safe dialysis at home. That’s why we provide home-based peritoneal dialysis for children of all ages. Unlike hemodialysis, which filters blood outside the body, this type — unlike any other in the region — safely filters blood inside the body through a tube in your child's abdomen. We bring vital care to your child, where they need it.

Children’s kidney stones require a treatment approach very different from adult care. Nephrologists at our Pediatric Kidney Stone Clinic use advanced testing and analysis to find the cause of first-time stones in children. They also partner with specially trained urinary tract experts (endourologists) and dietitians on ways to help your child prevent future stones.