Kidney Stones in Children? The Occurrence is on the Rise

A urinary tract condition more commonly seen in adults in their 40's and 50's, is now being seen more often in children as well. In fact, the incidence of kidney Cause Of Bronchitis is rising in all ages and genders.

The average age of children being admitted to hospitals with kidney stones is about 10. But, the prevalence of children even as young as 5 or 6 has many child health care experts sounding Bronchial Asthma Medicinal Plants alarm to wake up parents.

Doctors are not sure of the reasons behind the increase, but more advanced detection devices may be, in part, bringing about earlier diagnosing of such cases. Twenty or thirty years ago, Physical Therapist Copd kid with a kidney stone was seen maybe once every few months. Now, according to Dr. Caleb P. Nelson, a urology instructor at Harvard Medical School, who is also co-director of the new kidney stone center at Boston Children's Hospital, says they are seeing at least one case a week or less.

Symptoms vary in small children, from having almost none to severe pain in older children. The four most common symptoms include:

-intense pain in the lower back area and/ or sides
-frequent and painful urination
-bloody or pinkish colored urine
-urinary tract infections, secondary to kidney stones, accompanied by fever.

Although most people are rather astonished that a child has developed a kidney stone, it is rarely a serious health threat. It can be a recurring condition, though, if special attention is not adhered to in changing the dietary habits of the patient.

Most of the previous research that has been conducted on kidney stones in adults have most doctors believing this old tried and true advice to be relevant in children too. Far above several other health risk factors such as genetic vulnerability, obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure, poor dietary habits are the single, largest culprit to the onset of kidney stone development.

This really should not come as a huge surprise to anyone, considering how many other health conditions are also rising in children.

Kidney stone development is a result of the crystallization of one of several different types of mineral substances inside the kidney such as oxalate, calcium phosphate, or uric acid as urine becomes highly concentrated over a prolonged period of time. If the stone is large enough, it often causes pain within the urinary tract system by obstructing the elimination process.

In children, most of the time, the stones are found anchored inside the kidney or in the ureter (the narrow tube connecting the kidney to the bladder). Small stones are usually passed without intervention, although it may not be a painless process. Stones that are larger than 5 millimeters (0.20 inches) require a more evasive type of medical procedure. All kidney stone treatments are usually done on a out-patient basis.

Diagnosing the type of substance the stone is comprised of usually consists of a urine test, and a variety of different imaging test techniques may be used to determine how the stone should be handled. If the probability is likely, that the patient can not pass the stone on their own is determined, non-evasive shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) is most often used with children when possible.

The non-surgical shock wave energy therapy is passed through the skin to break the stone down into fragments that can be passed and eliminated through the urinary tract. It may take up to three months before all of the fragments are totally eliminated.

Kidney stones are no longer considered a strictly middle-age condition, and many youngsters are discovering this painful reality. Clearly, a cultural preventive awareness strategy is what is needed now to, gently, steer our youngsters towards healthier dietary habits.

Limiting table salt, high sodium processed foods, fast foods, and beverages at home is the key, along with drinking plenty of water (one liter per 50 lbs. of body weight) is recommended daily. Children that are urinating less than once every three hours are at risk of becoming dehydrated.

Our nation's schools have a responsibility in limiting or eliminating sodas and sports drinks, and encouraging water drinking and restroom use to its students.

Most kids avoid drinking too much at school, as they often consider it to be a major inconvenience to use the restroom facilities at school. This, combined with school administrative policies that discourage restroom use during class instruction time because it is viewed as a learning disruption, needs to change as our children's health is at risk.

Brenda Skidmore has spent over the last five years actively researching natural health care alternatives. She can attest to the many positive results natural practical cures and preventive strategies bring to human health. Along with the many medical professionals whose published works she has studied, it is her sincere desire to empower others by sharing this important information. To improve your life visit: http://www.mywater4life.com.

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