Final answer:
The next best step for a child with proteinuria on urine dipstick and no symptoms is to repeat the urine dipstick. This non-invasive approach helps to confirm persistent proteinuria before considering further tests or treatments. The correct answer is option d) Complete blood count
Step-by-step explanation:
If a child presents with proteinuria on a urine dipstick and has no symptoms, the best initial approach would be to repeat the urine dipstick test. Proteinuria can be transient and might not signify underlying pathology in the absence of symptoms. It may occur physiologically after vigorous exercise or may be orthostatic.
It is essential to confirm that proteinuria is persistent before further invasive tests, such as a renal biopsy, or treatments like ACE inhibitors are considered. Furthermore, conditions like multiple myeloma can present with specific proteins in the urine, but these conditions are usually accompanied by other symptoms and diagnostic lab findings.
After confirmation of persistent proteinuria with subsequent testing, other investigations such as blood tests, and possibly a renal biopsy might be indicated depending on the findings. Conditions such as post-renal proteinuria would necessitate examination of the urinary tract, and not just the kidney tissue itself.
Hence, a renal biopsy is not a first-line investigation in such a scenario. A Complete Blood Count (CBC) may be helpful if a kidney problem is suspected, as it can check for signs of infection, anemia, or other hematological conditions.