How to Treat Horseshoe Kidney

Horseshoe kidney is an often-misunderstood condition in which the kidneys of a developing child still in the uterus become joined or fused together at one end. The two kidneys fused together form a "u" shape, giving the condition its name. Read on to learn more about how to treat horseshoe kidney.

Things You'll Need

• Renal ultrasound, IV pyelogram, voiding cystourethrogram or blood test
• Prescription medication

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Instructions

• 1

  Get tests done early to look for horseshoe kidney. Some tests that your doctor can perform during your pregnancy to look for horseshoe kidney include a renal ultrasound, IV pyelogram, voiding cystourethrogram or a blood test. Talk to your doctor about the benefits of each of these tests to see which one is right for you.

• 2

  Prepare for the absence of treatment options. Many people with horseshoe kidney require no treatment at all. If there are no symptoms present, then there is nothing to treat. About one in three people will have no symptoms of horseshoe kidney.

• 3

  Look for symptoms that may indicate horseshoe kidney. Common symptoms that may be a sign of the condition include pain in the abdomen and sides, fever, restlessness, blood in the urine or cloudy urine, urinary tract infection and vomiting. Take your child to a doctor right away if these symptoms appear.

• 4

  Treat the symptoms, not the disease. Unfortunately, there is no cure for horseshoe kidney, and all you can do is treat the symptoms to relieve pain and discomfort.

• 5

  Look for dangerous conditions that are often associated with horseshoe kidney so they can be treated right away. The common ailments associated with horseshoe kidney are kidney stones, renal cancer, hydronephrosis, Wilms' tumor and a handful of cardiovascular, skeletal and nervous system anomalies.

• 6

  Treat the kidney stones associated with horseshoe kidney with prescription medication, or by using sound waves to break the tiny crystals up so they can be passed through your system. Doctors use a special machine to do this. Especially large or recurring kidney stones will sometimes require surgery.

• 7

  Take antibiotics to treat the urinary tract infections that are extremely common to those who have horseshoe kidneys.