Doctors Report Increase in Pediatric Kidney Stones

Pediatric urologists and nephrologists across the United States have reportedly noted an increase in the number of kidney stones diagnosed in children. An ailment commonly associated with middle-aged men, kidney stones are typically formed when “oxalate, a byproduct of certain foods, binds to calcium in the urine,” according to an October 29,2008, New York Times article, which stated that “the two biggest risk factors for this binding process are  not drinking enough fluids and eating too much salt.” The article also cited “evidence that sucrose, found in sodas, can also increase risk of stones, as can high-protein weight-loss diets, which are growing in popularity among teenagers.” The incidence of kidney stones has also purportedly risen in women and young adults in their 20s and 30s.

Physicians told New York Times reporter Laurie Tarkan that childhood obesity and a diet high in salt are the most likely culprits behind the new cases. They specifically pointed to sources of hidden sodium that include processed meats and canned soup, as well as popular sports drinks. Family history of the disease also appears to be a major risk factor, prompting doctors to recommend that the children of adult stone sufferers avoid high-salt, high-fat foods and drink lots of water. Alicia Neu, medical director of nephrology and the pediatric stone clinic at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, further observed that increasing water intake “is the most important step in the prevention of kidney
stones.”