kidney stones in the very young

[Guest guest]

Interesting, use of probiotics for preventive and reversal support? Hydration

of course. There are herbals used safely for children? THis article reminds me

also of Dr. Lad's discussion of how the involved oxalic acid crystals spoken of

below, also lodge in the connective tissues around the kidneys storing emotion

of fear. The emotion of fear may be easily correlated to the data below, it

would be interesting to see. I wonder what else might be said on this issue's

etiology.

 

Namaste;

Ysha

 

Painful Kidney Stones Becomes a Growing Trend in Kids

 

Sunday, April 12, 2009 by: Deanna Dean, citizen journalist

 

(NaturalNews) When we think of childhood maladies kidney stones would probably

not come to mind. Yet, the latest diagnosis making the rounds in pediatric wards

across the nation is kidney stones.

 

About one in seven men and one in fifteen women will be diagnosed with kidney

stones during their lifetime. It's a common disorder today even though kidney

stones have been a problem for humans for thousands of years as evidenced by the

discovery of one found in a 7,000 year old Egyptian mummy.

 

More than 1/2 million people will be in emergency rooms this year because of

kidney stones and that number is rising, explains Gary Curhan, an associate

professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. He says the reason may be the

growing number of overweight Americans.

 

What is surprising is that kidney stones, once considered a disorder of middle

age, is now showing up in children as young as five or six. A stone was found in

an 8-month-old girl as reported by a pediatrician at Loyola University Medical

Center near Chicago. Some hospitals have even opened pediatric kidney stone

clinics.

 

Dr. Caleb P. Nelson, a urology instructor at Harvard Medical School who is

co-director of the new kidney stone center at Children's Hospital Boston, says

they now see kids every week or less compared to the 1970's and 1980's when

children would come in with a stone once every few months. Baltimore's Johns

Hopkins Children Center has referrals to treat kidneys stones in children every

week as compared to fifteen years ago when they saw one or two children a year.

 

There was a recent report from China that children developed kidney stones when

they drank milk tainted with melamine, a toxic chemical illegally added to milk.

Infants are especially vulnerable because formula is their main source of food.

 

A kidney stone forms in the kidneys from substances normally found in the urine.

If the crystals remain small they can pass out of the body without any

discomfort, but they can have jagged surfaces and be as large as golf balls.

Professor Curhans says a recurring kidney stone can cause infection and kidney

damage.

 

Researchers have linked the formation of kidney stones to the lack of a

beneficial bacteria in the lower bowel called, Oxalobacterformigenes. This

friendly bacteria prevents stones by breaking down calcium oxalate in the

intestinal tract before it can move to the kidneys. Dr. David G. Williams

recommends regular use of a high quality probiotic supplement and/or eating

sauerkeraut, yogurt, or kefir to maintain good bacterial flora.

 

Most of the research has been from adult studies, but experts believe it applies

to children. Family history has some influence. Where you live may matter. The

Southeast has been dubbed the " Stone Belt. " The theory is that warm weather

makes you sweat causing urine to become more concentrated. Eighty percent of

stones are formed when oxalate, a byproduct of some foods, binds to calcium in

the urine. Not drinking enough fluids and eating too much salt both increase the

amount of calcium and oxalate in the urine.

 

Dr. Bruce L. Slaughenhoupt, co-director of pediatric urology and the pediatric

kidney stone clinic at the University of Wisconsin says, " What we've really seen

is an increase in the salt load in children's diets. " Along with other experts,

he mentions salty chips, French fries, processed sandwich meats, canned soups,

packaged meals and even sports drinks. Dr. Pope in Nashville says, " There is no

question in my mind that the problem is largely dietary and directly related to

the childhood obesity epidemic. "

 

Dr. Caleb Nelson agrees that we need to instill in our children lifelong habits

of good hydration, a balanced healthy diet and avoiding processed high-salt

fatty foods.

 

In Good Health,

Deanna Dean CNHP

 

New York Times, October 28, 2008, Laurie Tarkan

Nutrition Action Health Letter , Skipping Stones, David Schardt,

January/February 2009

MedHeadlines.com/2009/03/29/kidney-stones-in-american-kids-a-painful-trend/

Alternative Newsletter, February 2009, Dr. David G. Williams