While kidney disease is comparatively rare in young children, there are a number of conditions that can affect them. The most common kidney diseases in children are congenital abnormalities, such as:
* a narrowing or obstruction of the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body from the bladder).
* Fetal hydronephrosis, a dilatation or enlargement of one or both of a fetus's kidneys due to an abnormality in the developing urinary tract. This can also occur in childhood due to a blockage in the urinary tract or a reflux, when the mechanism that prevents urine from backing up from the bladder to the kidneys does not develop or function properly.
Cystic kidney diseases include polycystic kidney disease, which is the presence of numerous fluid-filled cysts in the kidneys. The cysts can replace much of the mass of the kidneys and lead to kidney failure. Another form is multicystic kidney disease, in which a developmentally abnormal kidney grows large cysts and eventually stops functioning.
Repeated kidney and urinary tract infections, sickle cell anemia, high blood pressure, and diabetes can also cause kidney damage, as can a serious injury like a car accident or a major fall.
Symptoms
A child should always be checked if they exhibit these symptoms:
* fever
* swelling around the eyes, feet, and ankles
* burning or pain during urination
* significant increase in the frequency of urination
* difficulty in controlling urination in children who are mature enough to use the toilet
* recurrence of night-time bedwetting in children who have been dry for several months
* blood in the urine
* high blood pressure Diagnosis usually involves urine tests, blood tests, imaging tests such as ultrasound, or a biopsy.
