Signs And Symptoms Of Kidney Stones In Children

Painful urination, blood in the urine and feeling sharp or shooting pains in the back or lower abdomen can be the symptoms of kidney stones. A child can also experience nausea and vomiting in addition to the pain. However, children who have smaller stones may be able to easily pass them with little to no pain or symptoms.

Types Of Kidney Stones In Children

There are four main types of kidney stones that occur in children:

• Cystine stones are the result of a genetic disorder that causes cysteine to leak through the kidneys and into the urine in high concentrations, leading to stone to formation.
• Calcium stones are the most commonly diagnosed types of stones and occur in two forms; calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate.
• Uric acid kidney stones form when a child’s urine is highly acidic. Eating foods rich in purines may cause elevated levels of acid to form in the kidneys, so is best to limit the amounts of meat, fish and shellfish in a child’s diet.
• Struvite stones happen as a result of kidney infections. Elimination of infected stones from the urinary tract and remaining free from infection helps in the prevention of more of these stones.

Diagnosing Kidney Stones In Kids

The process of diagnosing kidney stones will begin with a physician considering the symptoms a child is experiencing. Pain or blood in the urine may be the first symptoms noticed. Urine, imaging and blood tests can help to determine if a child’s symptoms are caused by kidney stones. Other techniques used to make a diagnosis include:

• X-rays: a machine is used to take an image of a child’s urinary tract and it can be done on an outpatient basis or in the hospital. These images are read by a radiologist and can be used to locate stones. While less expensive than other detection methods, it can be less informative.
• Computerized tomography (CT) scan: this involves the use of x-rays and computer technology to seek the presence of stones. A child will be required to lay down flat on their back on an examination table which is slid into a tunnel-shaped machine where pictures are taken. CT scans can expose children to small levels of radiation, so health care providers will use the smallest amount possible to glean the information needed.
• Ultrasound: involves the use of a device called a transducer. In an ultrasound, painless sound waves are bounced off of organs to create an image. An abdominal ultrasound can be done to view the entire urinary tract to check for kidney stones.

Although kidney stones are a lot more common in adults than in children, they do occur. If you wish to find out more information about kidney stones, there is a wealth of resources available to you online, or you could speak to your own personal healthcare provider for further assistance.