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What about infection?
Because anti-rejection medications affect the immune system, especially in the first few months, children who receive a transplant will be at higher risk for infections. A balance must be maintained between preventing rejection and causing your child to be susceptible to infection. Your child will also receive medication to prevent infections and will have frequent tests to monitor for infection.
What type of follow-up care will my child receive?
Your child will have very close follow-up with the transplant team after leaving the hospital. These visits allow for close monitoring of your child and the function of the transplanted kidney. Follow-up visits will include:
- History
- Complete physical examination
- Blood work
- Continuing education for you and your child
- Medication changes
These visits are typically twice per week for the first two months after the transplant, and then once per week for the next two months. After that, they are generally less frequent unless a problem arises. Children who have received a kidney transplant will need life-long follow-up with physicians who are specialized in transplant medicine. At a minimum, we recommend that monthly blood tests be performed for as long as the transplant is functioning.
It is very important that you keep your appointments with the transplant team, so that monitoring will be successful.
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