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What are the Causes of Kidney Disease in Children?

The kidneys act as the body's filtering system. Their job is to remove wastes from the blood and then send them to the bladder to be excreted in urine. The kidneys also help maintain a proper balance of potassium and sodium in the body, and the kidneys produce hormones needed for bone growth and red blood cell production. In addition, the kidneys also help to stabilize blood pressure. About 1 to 2 children for every 100,000 will experience kidney failure for various reasons, according to the National Institutes for Health.

  1. Hereditary Diseases

    • According to the NIH, kidney disease in children under the age of 14 is most commonly caused by hereditary conditions. A defective gene may result in polycystic kidney disease (PKD). This disease causes the kidney to develop multiple cysts which prevent the kidneys from functioning properly. Another hereditary disease is Alport syndrome. Alport syndrome may result in kidney disease as well as deafness and blindness.

    Glomerular Diseases

    • Glomerular diseases are the most common cause of kidney disease in children aged 15 to 19. Glomerula disease can sometimes develop after a particularly bad case of strep throat. Glomerular diseases are those diseases that attack the kidney's glomeruli, which are the kidney's individual filters. These diseases may cause protein and blood to leak into the urine. Severe glomeruli damage can lead to kidney failure.

    Birth Defects

    • According to the NIH, boys are more often affected by kidney birth defects. Some infants may be born with no kidneys while other may have malformed kidneys. Depending on the severity of the birth defects, some infants may need minimal treatment while other will need dialysis or a kidney transplant soon after birth.

    Acute Diseases

    • Acute diseases are those diseases that rapidly attack the body and then go away. However, such diseases can potentially cause permanent problems with the body's organs. Acute kidney disease may result from accidental poisoning or from injury causing the blood supply to the kidneys to be restricted. Hemolytic uremic disease is a rare condition that may result in kidney failure; it is contracted by eating foods contaminated by dangerous bacteria. Severe lead poisoning may also cause kidney damage over time. Nephrotic syndrome, another acute disease, is characterized by infrequent urination leading to swelling around the legs, stomach and eye area. If treated, nephrotic disease usually does not cause permanent kidney disease.

    Chronic Diseases

    • Chronic disease are those that affect a child for a long period of time and typically worsen over time. Such diseases include diabetes and lupus. Lupus is a disorder that causes the body's immune system to attack tissues in the body. In some cases, the kidneys are attacked. Diabetes may cause kidney failure after many years, especially if diabetes is not effectively controlled and treated.

    Urine Reflux

    • Blockages that occur in the area where urine is excreted out of the body may cause urine to reflux back into the kidney causing damage. This problem may lead to multiple urinary tract infections that require antibiotic treatment. In severe cases, surgery may be needed to stop the urine reflux from damaging the kidneys over time.

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