Ibrahim A., 12

Twelve-year-old Ibrahim Adam Dawud is the youngest of five children, a curious, innovative boy in Primary 5 at a government school who loves creating things and dreams of becoming an engineer. His father is a painter and his mother a retired primary school teacher, and their 35,000 naira monthly income cannot stretch far; home has no electricity, and the family buys water daily. For two weeks, Ibrahim battled colicky pain in his lower right abdomen and flank, radiating to his groin. Passing urine became painful, frequent, and urgent, and three times he passed visible blood. For four days, fever with chills and nausea followed. Brought to the hospital for the first time, he was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection needing prompt treatment.

With prompt treatment including IV antibiotics, hydration, and management of the ureteric stone, Ibrahim is expected to recover fully, the infection will clear, and he can return to school with normal kidney function and no long-term damage. If the stone passes or is treated early, it will relieve the obstruction and prevent further kidney injury. If left untreated, the infection and blockage can lead to recurrent UTIs, sepsis, obstructive kidney damage, and possible chronic kidney disease that would permanently affect his growth and health.