Kidney disease develops silently and often reveals itself when it’s too late.
“Children and adolescents should be monitored carefully because kidney disease that seems to suddenly strike young adults often has its roots in childhood,” said Dr. Barbara Fivush, director of nephrology at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.
Kidneys of patients with the disease progressively deteriorate until they loose kidney function and dialysis or transplantation is required.
Signs of kidney disease include:
» Swelling (even mild) of the hands and feet
» Puffiness around the eyes
» Decreased or increased frequency of urination
» Long-lasting changes in the color or appearance of urine
» Headaches resulting from high blood pressure
“Kidney disease occurs more often than we think, but it is also more treatable than we used to think, especially when caught early,” Fivush said. For more information about kidney disease in children, call 410-516-4741.
