A male client is admitted for treatment of acute glomerulonephritis. On initial assessment, which sign is a classic indicator of sudden onset glomerulonephritis?

• A. Generalized edema, especially of the face and periorbital area.
• B. Green-tinged urine.
• C. Moderate to severe hypotension.
• D. Polyuria.

Answer: (A)

In acute glomerulonephritis, the kidneys’ inflammation leads to reduced filtration and salt and water retention, which causes edema. This fluid buildup often appears early as puffiness around the eyes and face, especially the periorbital area, making facial edema a classic early sign of sudden onset nephritic processes.

Other signs listed don’t fit as neatly: urine may be dark from blood (hematuria) but isn’t typically green-tinged; hypotension is not typical—in fact, hypertension is more common due to fluid overload and increased vascular resistance; and polyuria is not typical because urine output is often reduced (oliguria) in acute glomerulonephritis. That combination makes facial edema the best indicator of the sudden onset nephritic process.