Patient education: Kidney stones in children (The Basics)

What are kidney stones? — 

These are small stones that form inside the kidneys. They are made of salts and minerals that are normally in urine. Sometimes, these salts and minerals clump together and form small stones.

Kidney stones usually get carried out of the body when a child urinates. But sometimes, they can get stuck on the way out (figure 1). This can cause symptoms.

What are the symptoms of kidney stones? — 

Symptoms can include:

●Pain in the side or in the lower part of the belly or back

●Blood in the urine (which can make urine pink or red)

●Nausea or vomiting

●Pain when urinating

●Needing to urinate in a hurry

●Being irritable and crying when urinating (in young children)

Some children do not have any symptoms. Sometimes, doctors find kidney stones by accident while doing an imaging test, such as a CT scan or ultrasound, for another reason. (Imaging tests create pictures of the inside of the body.)

Is there a test for kidney stones? — 

Yes. The doctor or nurse will ask about your child's symptoms and do an exam.

If they think your child might have kidney stones, they will order:

●An imaging test, such as an ultrasound or CT scan – These can show:

•If a kidney stone is causing the symptoms

•The size and location of the stone

●Urine tests – These can help the doctor:

•Figure out the cause of your child's kidney stones

•Check for other problems that can be caused by kidney stones

How are kidney stones treated? — 

Treatment depends on:

●The size, type, and location of the stone

●Your child's symptoms

●If your child can drink large amounts of fluids

If the stone is small and causes only mild symptoms, your child might be able to stay home and wait for it to pass in their urine. The doctor will give you instructions on how to do this. These can include:

●Drinking lots of fluids

●Taking certain medicines for pain, such as ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), or to make it easier to pass the stone

●Urinating through a strainer so you can catch the stone when it comes out

Your child might need treatment in the hospital if:

●The stone is blocking urine flow

●Your child has severe pain or is vomiting

●Your child cannot drink large amounts of fluid

While in the hospital, your child might get:

●Medicine and fluids through an "IV" (a thin tube that goes into a vein) – Some children also need medicine to treat an infection.

●Treatment to remove or break up kidney stones that do not pass on their own. This might include:

•Shock wave lithotripsy – This is a procedure to break up stones into smaller pieces using pressure waves. It does not involve surgery, but it can be painful.

•Percutaneous nephrolithotomy – This is a special kind of surgery. The doctor makes a very small cut ("incision") in the child's skin. They pass tiny tools through the incision and into the child's urinary tract or kidney. (The urinary tract is a group of organs that includes the ureter, bladder, and urethra.) Then, they remove the stone.

•Ureteroscopy – The doctor puts a thin tube into the body the same way urine comes out. They use special tools at the end of the tube to break up or remove stones.

Will my child have another kidney stone? — 

Maybe. If your child gets a kidney stone, they have a higher risk of getting another one later. To reduce the chances of getting kidney stones again, make sure your child drinks plenty of water. Your child's doctor or nurse can tell you exactly how much water your child needs.

Depending on what your child's kidney stones were made of, you might need to make changes to your child's diet. The doctor or nurse can tell you which foods to avoid. They might also prescribe certain medicines.

When should I call the doctor? — 

Call your child's doctor or nurse if:

●Your child has any symptoms of a kidney stone, such as:

•Pain in their side or in the lower part of their belly or back

•Blood in their urine (which can make urine pink or red)

•Nausea or vomiting

•Pain when urinating

•Needing to urinate in a hurry

•Being irritable and crying when urinating (in small children)

●Your child's doctor recommends trying to pass a kidney stone at home, and your child:

•Does not urinate for more than 8 hours

•Has a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills

•Has urine that is cloudy, smells bad, or has more blood in it than before

•Has very bad pain from a kidney stone that is not helped by pain medicines

•Is vomiting and cannot keep liquids down

•Has pain that does not go away after 1 to 2 weeks

More on this topic

Patient education: Kidney stones in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Kidney stone diet (The Basics)
Patient education: Low-purine diet (The Basics)
Patient education: Flank pain (The Basics)
Patient education: Blood in the urine (hematuria) in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Intravenous pyelogram (The Basics)
Patient education: Urinalysis (The Basics)
Patient education: Uric acid blood test (The Basics)
Patient education: Lithotripsy for kidney stones (The Basics)
Patient education: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (The Basics)
Patient education: Ureteroscopy (The Basics)
Patient education: Ureteral stent placement (The Basics)

Patient education: Kidney stones in children (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Kidney stones in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Blood in the urine (hematuria) in children (Beyond the Basics)