Kidney stone incidence in children is on the increase, says Gary Faerber, urologist at the University of Michigan Health System. “I am seeing more and more children who have kidney stones,” says Faerber. “It’s a real phenomenon.”
The growing incidence of kidney stones in children can be linked to the modern diet and lifestyle, says Faerber.
Typically, kidney stones are found in adults between the ages of 35 and 60 but children can get them, too. A family history of kidney stones is also a significant risk factor.
Children today seem to live a lifestyle that puts them at risk of kidney stones, meaning they consume sugar-filled drinks and a fast-food diet that is high in sodium, a known risk factor in the formation of kidney stones, says Faerber.
“The sedentary lifestyle we’re starting to see in the younger age group and the pediatric group is also a risk factor because we know that obesity increases the risk of forming kidney stones,” he adds.
The most common kidney stones in the U.S. are calcium oxalate stones. Oxalates are found in high concentration in fruits and vegetables such as leafy green vegetables and strawberries.
Recent research has shown a link between global warming and dehydration. The more dehydrated one becomes, the more concentrated the urine becomes, which forms crystals and crystals form into kidney stones. Recent studies in global warming indicate that the number of patients yearly who are treated for kidney stones is going to increase from 1 million to 2 million.
The most common reason people have kidney stones is that the urine becomes super saturated and it doesn’t take much for a small crystal to form in the urine. Crystal can grow into stones and get larger and larger as long as they sit in the super saturated fluid. This is why it’s really important for kidney stone patients to make sure they keep their urine really diluted, Faerber says.
The most common symptoms in children with kidney stones are back and abdominal pain. Parents may often mistake their child’s symptoms for appendicitis or gastritis. Kidney stones tend to be way down on the list of possible problems.
Doctors recommend for children between the ages of 5 and 10 who have kidney stones to drink six glasses of water a day and those kids over 10, to drink 10 glasses.
”The main takeaway is to get your child to stay away from sugar filled drinks, sodas, colas and go to something natural like plain old water,” he says.
Treating and Preventing Kidney Stones
References:
1. Gary Faerber, et al. University of Michigan Health System.
