Although the first episode of kidney stones usually appears between 30 and 50 years of age, 2% of cases occur in childhood, from babies to adolescents, with a higher incidence in girls.
In most cases in childhood, stones are due to diet and/or the amount of liquid consumed, factors that can influence urinary pH levels. However, there may also be other factors, such as a hereditary component, a sedentary lifestyle, obstruction of urine flow, or a urinary or kidney infection.
As in any episode of kidney stones, the most common symptom is a very sharp and sudden pain in the lower back, known as renal colic or nephritic colic. This pain can spread to the side, abdomen, or groin area when the stone moves through the urinary tract. It can even cause nausea and/or vomiting and blood in the urine.
Its detection can become a complicated task depending on the child's age. Some may complain of stomach pain, others may constantly change position without expressing what is happening to them, and others may simply not feel any pain at all.
The presence of kidney stones is usually detected with a urine analysis and an X-ray or ultrasound. Although in some cases it is detected during an evaluation for a urinary infection or through an ultrasound performed for another reason. In any case, the treatment consists of hydrating the child, either orally or intravenously, to facilitate the natural expulsion and elimination of the stone. If the stone is of considerable size, lithotripsy or intervention will be necessary to remove them safely.
It should be noted that the probability ofrecurrence, that is, of having a similar episode again, is 30-50% in the next 5 years and 80% in the next 10 years. In addition, the percentage of cases increases up to 55% with the presence of a family history of kidney stones and other risk factors.
For this reason, there are alternative treatments indicated for people prone to kidney stone formation. This is the case of the Lit-Control method, a system that allows measuring and controlling urine pH with the aim of restoring the body's acid-base balance and thus preventing future kidney stone formations.
