[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2022\/12\/kidney-stones-in-kids\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2022\/12\/kidney-stones-in-kids\/","headline":"What Causes Kidney Stones in Children?","name":"What Causes Kidney Stones in Children?","description":"You may think of kidney stones as an adult problem, but kids can get them too. Here are the symptoms of kidney stones in kids \u2014 and how to prevent them.","datePublished":"2022-12-23","dateModified":"2025-01-03","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/pediatrics","name":"Pediatrics","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/pediatrics","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/pediatrics\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/kidney-stones-in-kids.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/kidney-stones-in-kids.jpg","height":867,"width":2000},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2022\/12\/kidney-stones-in-kids\/","about":["Living and Wellness","Pediatrics"],"wordCount":1119,"articleBody":"You may know adults who’ve had kidney stones \u2014 or you may have experienced the pain of passing a kidney stone yourself. But can kids get kidney stones?Kids do get kidney stones, says the American Academy of Pediatrics, and they’ve become more common in the past 20 years. Diet may play a role.Kidney stones can occur in children of any age. But they’re more common in teens than in younger kids.Here’s what you need to know about kidney stones in children.What Is a Kidney Stone?A kidney stone is a hard, pebble-like formation in one or both kidneys. Kidney stones develop when high levels of certain minerals form crystals in the urine. The crystals bind together to produce the kidney stone.A kidney stone can be as tiny as a grain of sand or as big as a pea. In very rare cases, a kidney stone can grow as large as a golf ball. The surface of the stone can be rough or smooth.The kidney stone may stay in the kidney, or it may move out with the flow of urine. Smaller stones may pass through the urinary tract without a problem. In many cases, you may not even realize your child had a kidney stone.But the kidney stone may get stuck in the urinary tract. It can block the flow of urine, causing severe pain and bleeding.Kidney Stones on the Rise in ChildrenKidney stones are the result of high levels of certain minerals \u2014 calcium, oxalate, and phosphorus \u2014 in the urine. In normal quantities, these minerals are harmless, but in larger quantities they can form kidney stones. Research has found that kidney stones are on the rise among children nationwide.A 2016 study published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology examined kidney stone incidence among 15-to-19-year-olds in South Carolina from 1997 to 2012. The researchers discovered a 28% increase in kidney stones over five years for girls and a 23% increase for boys.Lifestyle and diet play a role in the development of kidney stones. Eating processed foods and not drinking enough water can contribute to their formation. When there’s not enough liquid passing through the kidneys, the minerals in the urine become too concentrated.Kidney stones tend to run in families. If you or your partner are prone to them, your kids may be as well.Other causes of kidney stones include birth defects of the urinary tract, side effects of certain medications, or rare metabolic conditions.Risk Factors for Kidney Stones in ChildrenSome factors make it more likely for kids to develop kidney stones. They are:A diet high in salt, meat, and processed foods and low in fresh fruits and vegetables.Obesity.Diabetes.Not drinking enough water.Drinking too many sugary drinks.A family history of kidney stones.Having had kidney stones in the past.A blockage in the urinary tract.Having a chronic inflammation of the bowel.Certain diseases, like gout, cystic fibrosis, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).Not having enough citric acid (from oranges, lemons, limes) in the urine.Chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs).Symptoms of Kidney Stones in ChildrenThe following are symptoms of kidney stones in kids:Sharp, sudden pain. Pain with kidney stones tends to radiate from the back and side. But as the stone moves through the urinary tract, it can cause pain in the belly or groin.Pain while urinating.Blood in the urine. The urine may look pink, red, or brown.An urgent feeling of \u201cneeding to go”.Cloudy, bad-smelling urine.Irritability.Inability to urinate or only urinating a small quantity.Nausea.Vomiting.Fever and chills, which can be signs of an infection.Treatment of Kidney Stones in ChildrenIf you think your child may have kidney stones, you should call your pediatrician right away.Doctors diagnose kidney stones with blood and urine tests. They may run imaging tests (ultrasounds, x-rays, CT scans) to see the exact location and size of the stone. A 24-hour urine collection can help determine the cause of the kidney stone. Once your doctor has this information, they can decide what type of treatment is best.At-home treatment of kidney stonesDepending on the size and shape of the stone, you may be able to treat it at home. Drinking plenty of water may help the stone pass. You can also give your child over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication (ibuprofen or acetaminophen).Your doctor may ask that you strain your child’s pee to collect any stones or fragments that pass. Lab tests can help your doctor figure out what type of stone it is, and what caused it. That will help them decide if you child needs more treatment.Hospital treatment of kidney stonesLarger kidney stones don’t usually pass on their own. They may block the urinary tract, causing severe pain. Kids with larger kidney stones may need urgent medical care.Children who are vomiting or are in extreme pain may need intravenous (IV) fluids. They can get fluids and stronger pain medicine through a vein.A urologist may have to remove the kidney stone. They can do that through:Shock wave lithotripsy \u2014 a procedure that uses sound waves outside the body to break up the kidney stone. The tiny pieces of the kidney stone then pass out of the body in the urine.Cystoscopy \u2014 a doctor uses a tube with a tiny lens to look inside the urethra and bladder to find a kidney stone. They can remove the stone or break it into smaller pieces.Ureteroscopy \u2014 a doctor uses a tube and lens to look inside the ureters and kidneys. As in cystoscopy, they can remove the stone or break it up.Preventing Kidney Stones in ChildrenYou can reduce the chances of your child getting kidney stones by having them:Drink enough water. If your child is well-hydrated, their urine should be pale yellow.Limit salt in cooked foods, and don’t add salt at the table.Eat more citrus fruits.Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.Maintain a healthy weight.Avoid processed foods, fast foods, and soda.Limit foods with sugar and high fructose corn syrup.Ask your doctor about the proper amount of calcium for your child. Too little or too much calcium can increase the risk of kidney stones.If your child is prone to kidney stones, your doctor may recommend seeing a kidney specialist (nephrologist). They can make more specific recommendations about your child’s diet.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on December 23, 2022, and was last reviewed on January 3, 2025.SourcesAnnual Incidence of Nephrolithiasis among Children and Adults in South Carolina from 1997 to 2012. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. 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