Kidney Stones in Children
Kidney stones have become more common in children and teens over the past 20 years. They can occur in children of any age, even premature infants, but most stones occur in teens.
Kidney stones happen when minerals and other substances normally found in urine join together to form a hard stone in the urinary tract. They can also form if there is not enough of other substances in the urine that help stop stones from forming.
Stones typically form in the kidney and ureter, the tube that connects the kidney to the bladder. They rarely form in the bladder.
Types of Kidney Stones
- Calcium stones are the most common type, usually caused by high intake of certain substances, such as salt.
- Cystine stones can form in people who have cystinuria, an inherited disorder, marked by increased formation of stones in the bladder, kidney and ureter.
- Struvite stones most often occur in women who have urinary tract infections.
- Urica acid stones can occur with gout or after chemotherapy.
How big are kidney stones?
Kidney stones vary in size, with most about 1/8-1/4 inch. If a child passes a stone while peeing, it is helpful to collect it if possible so your doctor can send it for lab testing. Finding out what the stone is made of can help your child’s doctor find ways to stop more stones from forming.
Risk factors for kidney stones
There are many risk factors for forming kidney stones. Some of the most common ones are:
- Family tendency to form stones
- A diet high in salt, meat, and processed foods, and low in fruits and vegetables
- Low urine output from not drinking enough fluid
- Specific inherited conditions
Signs & symptoms of kidney stones
Stones can form in a child’s kidney without causing symptoms for a long time. However, if a stone starts to move down the urinary tract through the tube called the ureter, it can cause symptoms such as:
- Sudden, severe pain in back or side
- Nausea and vomiting
- Groin pain as the stone passes down the urinary tract
- Severe stomach pain only (young children especially)
How are kidney stones diagnosed?
The diagnosis is usually confirmed when a stone is found in a child’s urinary tract by x-ray, ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) scan.
The preferred test for a child suspected of having a stone is an ultrasound. That’s because an ultrasound is easy to do, can detect most stones, and does not use radiation. A CT scan can show very small stones, but since this test requires some radiation exposure, many providers will start with an ultrasound. They will then order a CT scan only if a stone is suspected, but not seen with ultrasound.
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