Objective:To analyze the etiology

clinical manifestations

pathology and prognosis of 87 cases of acute interstitial nephritis in children.Methods:Clinical features and pathological data of 87 patients with AIN admitted in our hospital from October 1996 to October 2006 were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Of total 87 cases

64 were infection-associated(73.6%)

and respiratory and intestinal infections were most common.The other 23 cases(26.4%) were caused by surgery and other reasons.Renal impairment in 55 cases(60.9%)was medication-associated

especially NSAID and antimicrobials.A total of 35 cases(40.2%)were virus-associated(IgM positive in blood)

and among those

EBV was the most common one.Clinical manifestations for all cases were variable ranging from mild proteinuria

hematuria and leucocyturia to accomparied acute renal failure(31/87

35.6%).Renal biopsy was performed in 11 patients.Mononuclear cell infiltration in the renal interstitium with tubular degradation was typical.Crescent was seen in 3 cases.A total of 12 cases(28 person-time) with ARF needed blood puritication(hemodialysis or hemofiltration)

1 case was treated with peritoneal dialysis.A majority of patients with ARF had complete recovery

and only 3 of them were treated with steroid in low dosage.Conclusion:Infection and drug associated AIN are common in children.Clinical manifestations are variably ranged

mainly with the change of urine

and the extreme situation is with ARF or multiple organ failure(MOF).Interstitial and tubular damage is typical in pathology.Prevention of infections and reasonable drug administration are keys to the prevention of AIN in children.