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Kidney Stone in kids

Kidney stones are found in children as young as 5 years. In fact, this problem is so common in children that some hospitals conduct ‘stone’ clinics for pediatric patients. Here we mention some of the most common factors which cause kidney stone in children:


Obesity alters the natural levels of hormones and other bodily substances. Triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose and insulin are all increased in the urine of an obese child. The increase in these substances raises the acidity of the child's urine.

High acid levels in the urine are one of the leading factors that contribute to the development of kidney stones, which are formed when minerals and acid salts solidify in the kidney.

Poor Diets

While a poor diet often leads to obesity in children, thereby raising their chance of getting uric acid kidney stones, even slender children who eat poorly run the risk of developing kidney stones. Fast food, sodas and prepackaged foods are all mainstays of many children’s diets, and these foods contain high levels of sodium. When the child takes in too much sodium, her body releases more calcium, thereby increasing the chance of a calcium-based kidney stone forming. Additionally, many children do not eat as much calcium as they should. Many people are weary of too much calcium causing kidney stones, but if a child does not get enough calcium, the child’s gastrointestinal tract produces excess oxalate, a chemical that is a major contributor to kidney stones.


Children generally prefer sugary drinks such as soda and fruit drinks instead of plain water. The drinks do not keep the urine as diluted as plain water does, and undiluted urine forms concentrations of minerals. Over time, these minerals turn into kidney stones. Even if the child avoids soda and fruit drinks, if he does not drink enough water, his urine becomes concentrated and less diluted internally, which can cause kidney stones to develop.

Medical Factors

Multiple medical factors beyond diet and obesity contribute to kidney stones. Children who have a history of kidney stones are more likely to develop new ones. Urinary tract infections can interfere with the production and relieving of urine, which, in turn, can cause a greater concentration of minerals in the urine, leading quickly to kidney stones. Cystic fibrosis, inherited disorders and certain types of medication promote crystals in the urine that develop into kidney stones.

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