Acute Kidney Injury in a High School Athlete

A 17-year-old African American male high school athlete was diagnosed with an acute kidney injury secondary to severe dehydration following a football game. After administering intravenous fluids and obtaining multiple blood tests, the athlete was released from the emergency department. Following the care in the emergency department, the athlete was restricted from all physical exertion for 2 weeks. Furthermore, after a gradual, monitored return-to-play protocol, he returned back to sport without complications. This case is unique in its presentation because acute kidney injury is often found, in sports medicine literature, to occur in older endurance athletes; it is rarer to encounter it in the adolescent population within a team sport. This case also highlights the need for interprofessional collaboration in order to enhance and facilitate a safe return to play for all athletes.