Poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN) is the most common cause of nephritic syndrome in children. PSGN typically occurs 1-3 weeks after a group A beta hemolytic streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis or 3-6 weeks after a GAS skin infection. It is thought to be a glomerular immune complex disease leading to complement activation and triggered by specific nephrogenic strains of GAS.

The clinical features of PSGN are varied, with a majority of children presenting with asymptomatic microscopic hematuria. Common clinical features in symptomatic children include peripheral edema, hypertension, gross hematuria with characteristic tea- or cola-colored urine, acute kidney injury, and proteinuria, which at times reaches nephrotic levels.

Children typically have a good prognosis with normalization of creatinine. Adults may have residual effects of hypertension, recurrent proteinuria, and persistence of abnormal renal function.