Kidney Stones in Children
March 22, 2007
Kidney stones are often described by those who have had one, as the most painful experience they have ever had. Thankfully, children are rarely the target of this malady that affects mostly adults. Dr. Mom shares how this unusual occurrence in children is becoming more frequent.
We all know or have heard of one of our adult friends having problems with kidney stones. However, kidney stones in children was at one time almost unheard of, but is now becoming a fairly common condition. In fact, physicians are now seeing 10 times as many children with kidney stones than in previous years.
While doctors have yet to determine the cause of the increase, most pediatricians agree that too much salt and too little drinking water in children's diets are probably the main culprits. This is not totally surprising since so many other conditions are on the rise in children due to poor diet, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.
What are kidney stones?
Kidney stones are crystalline structures formed in the urinary tract. Stones start out small and gradually grow larger. Most stones are formed in the kidney. Most commonly, stones will enlarge over time and may move around causing pain which is due to obstruction of urine flow.
How common are kidney stones in children?
In one clinic, pediatricians saw 5 cases a year, and now are seeing approximately 1 case per week. Once a child makes a stone, there is a 50% chance of forming another stone in 5-10 years without treatment.
How are kidney stones diagnosed?
A kidney stone attack can be determined by the type of pain a stone produces. A urine test may show blood or crystals in the urine. An ultrasound or a CT scan may be necessary to determine if a child has kidney stone. Kidney stones often cause urinary tract infections and the diagnosis of kidney stones may be overlooked. For this reason, if your child is still having problems after treatment for urinary tract infection, do not hesitate to contact your pediatrician.
- Intense pain in the back, side, or abdomen; may be steady or come in waves, and is often associated with nausea, vomiting.
- Frequent and painful urination
- Blood in the urine and/or cloudy urine
- Urinary tract infections, secondary to kidney stones, accompanied by fever
- Limit the intake of salt (doctors recommend consuming no more than 1 teaspoon of table salt a day
- Drink at least two liters of water a day (64 ounces) - juices and sodas don't count!
- Stay away from salty snacks such as pretzels and chips
- Rinse canned foods under water to remove some of the sodium
- Look for "no salt added" or "low sodium" labels when buy food
- Avoid processed foods, including smoked and cured meats, as well as sodas and canned products
- Tea, coffee, dark chocolate, spinach, nuts and wheat bran can also increase the risk of certain types of kidney stones