Pediatric nephrology is the study and treatment of children with kidney disorders. A pediatric nephrologist is a physician who diagnoses and manages kidney disease and kidney function in infants, children and adolescents. This specialist consults with a surgeon regarding a young patient’s kidney transplantation, and will help manage blood pressure, fluid and electrolyte balance in the body, and dialysis procedures. This physician has special training in dialysis physiology, management of renal failure, pharmacology, hypertension, nutrition, and development of the kidney and urinary tract in children.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. Illinois has 34 practicing pediatric nephrologists. Broken out by city, pediatric nephrology doctor density in Arlington Heights is 1, in Bloomington is 1, in Burr Ridge is 3, in Champaign is 2, in Chicago is 22, in Evergreen Park is 1, in Glenview is 1, in Gurnee is 1, in Homewood is 1, in Joliet is 1, in Lisle is 1, in Mattoon is 1, in Maywood is 4, in Oak Lawn is 2, in Palos Heights is 3, in Park Ridge is 2, in Rockford is 1, in Springfield is 1, in Urbana is 2, in Vernon Hills is 2, in Westchester is 1, in Wilmette is 1, in Winfield is 1, and in Woodstock is 1.

Most people think that Chicago, because of its size and popularity, is Illinois’ capital city, but that distinction belongs to Springfield, home of the Abraham Lincoln Museum. Illinois has hundreds of museums, numerous yearly art and ethnic festivals, a lakeshore bordering Lake Michigan, and the many national forests and parks that offers visitors camping, horseback riding, biking, kayaking, and fishing. Chicago is home to the Sears Tower, the Shedd Aquarium, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Adler Planetarium, the Museum of Science and Industry, and other cultural opportunities and restaurants in the Navy Pier area.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Illinois has a population of 12,763,371. Of this population, 3,172,677 are under the age of 18 and 1,523,937 are at or above the age of 65.