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Child Kidney Stones FAQs

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Although we may think of kidney stones as an adult issue, kids of any age can develop them. Learn more about kidney stones and how they’re treated in children.

Why are so many kids getting kidney stones?

Doctors find kidney stones in kids more often today. While diseases can cause some stones, experts believe many are related to nutrition, such as too much salt in the diet.

What causes kidney stones in children?

Risk factors for forming kidney stones include:

  • A diet high in processed foods, meat and salt, and low in fruits and vegetables
  • A family tendency to form stones
  • Blocked urine flow
  • Bowel disease
  • Certain medications
  • Inherited health conditions
  • Kidney infection
  • Lack of physical activity, which leads to calcium buildup
  • Low urine output from not drinking enough water

What are typical kidney stone symptoms seen in children?

When kids have kidney stones, they may experience:

  • Blood in the urine
  • Burning or pain with urination
  • Fever
  • Groin pain
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Severe stomach pain
  • Sudden and severe pain in the back or side

How do you treat kidney stones in children?

Ibuprofen and acetaminophen help relieve pain. Your child’s Mercy doctor may prescribe other medications to help stones pass. You may need to use a filter to catch stones passed in urine so they can be tested in a lab. Drinking large amounts of water and other fluids at home is essential.

Kids in severe pain who are vomiting may need hospital care to get IV fluids and stronger pain medicine. Like adults, kids with large stones or stones that won’t pass may need lithotripsy or other urology procedures.

Find a Urologist

Mercy has experienced urologists across most of our communities. 

Find a urologist near you.