How do you keep your kid’s kidneys healthy?

Dr.Neha Bhandari, 3 mins read

Kidney problems are not just limited to adults. They affect children, too. According to NCBI, the global prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is 15 to 74.7 cases per million children. The real number may be more as many children do not even notice any symptoms until the disease progresses.

Therefore, it is important to be vigilant for any abnormal symptoms. These abnormal signs may include:

• Blood in urine
• Anaemia
• Persistent hypertension
• Swelling over the body, especially puffy eyes
• Bowed legs, rickets or bone pain
• Bedwetting even after 5 years of age
• Stunted growth/short stature
• Persistent headache
• Recurrent urine infections
• Poor urinary stream
• Renal stones
• Excessive thirst
• Frequent urination
• Pain or discomfort while urination
• How to keep your kid’s kidneys in good shape?
  Encourage hydration
  Water is the key to happy and healthy kidneys. Encourage your kid to drink an adequate amount of water. This helps kidneys to function better and flush out toxins and waste products. Thus, reducing the risk of kidney stones and other kidney-related issues.
• Limit sodium intake
  Too much sodium intake is linked to kidney problems. Excess sodium puts a strain on the kidneys, increases blood pressure and may lead to kidney damage. So, keep a check on your kid’s salt intake. Limit their intake of processed and salty fruits. And encourage them to eat home-cooked nutritious foods.
• Maintain a healthy diet
  A diet full of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean proteins is essential for good kidney health. If your child doesn’t show much interest in them, wrap up these foods in a tasty flavour.
• Monitor blood pressure
  Persistent high blood pressure can damage the kidneys over time. So, it’s good to check your child’s blood pressure periodically and take necessary steps if it is above the normal range, i.e., 120/80 mm Hg.
• Encourage physical activity
  Exercise is important for maintaining overall health, including kidney health. Indulge your kid in physical activities on a regular basis to support their kidney function.
• Avoid certain medications
  Overuse of some medicines like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be harmful to the kidneys. Make sure you only give prescribed medicines to your child.
• Get regular checkups
  Take a periodic full-body checkup plan for your child. This way, you will be able to identify any problem at an earlier stage and start the treatment as soon as possible.