Thirty years ago, kidney stones were thought to mostly affect middle-aged, Caucasian males. However, recent data indicate a disturbing trend: this excruciatingly painful sickness is increasingly afflicting younger people, particularly adolescent females. Furthermore, doctors report an increase in the number of persons suffering from kidney stones throughout the summer. Some speculate that food changes, early antibiotic usage, and dehydration caused by climate change are all factors in this transition.
According to an article published in NBC News, the presence of insoluble mineral and salt deposits in the urinary system is referred to as nephrolithiasis, or, more colloquially, kidney stones. Urinary stones can be as little as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball and can be formed from a range of minerals such as calcium, oxalate, and phosphorus. However, certain stones become lodged in the urinary tract and block urine from passing, causing excruciating pain and bleeding.
As the number of pediatric cases increased, hospitals established dedicated “stone clinics” to treat patients. Children are more prone than adults to get kidney stones, although those who do are generally otherwise healthy. Environmental variables, according to Dr. Gregory Tasian, a pediatric urologist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, are critical to understanding this sudden transition.
Over 10% of Americans will have kidney stones at some point in their lives, and children as young as 5 have been diagnosed. Dr. Tasian discovered that between 1997 and 2012, the yearly occurrence of kidney stones in South Carolina increased by 16%. The highest rise was seen in the 15-19 age range, notably among young women. According to several studies, kidney stones are becoming more prevalent among young people.
Poor eating has been linked by experts to the development of kidney stones in youngsters. Ultraprocessed foods, such as potato chips, sandwich meats, sports drinks, and pre-packaged meals, are high in sodium, which can cause an increase in the mineral content of urine, which can contribute to stone formation. Low water consumption, as well as excessive consumption of high-fructose corn syrup-sweetened beverages, add to an already elevated risk.
Dehydration is more likely in hot, humid summers because people sweat more and urinate less. Under these conditions, increased mineral bonding promotes stone formation, particularly in the kidneys and urinary system. Children are more prone to acquire kidney stones in the summer due to their vulnerability to heat-related illnesses. The southeastern United States (dubbed the “kidney stone belt”) has a greater rate of kidney stone disease than the rest of the country.
According to the study, antibiotic usage may raise the chance of acquiring kidney stones. Antibiotics have been linked to an increased incidence of kidney stones due to their effect on gut flora. Dr. Tasian’s research team observed that some people who used oral antibiotics were more likely to develop kidney stones. Kidney stones were more prevalent in antibiotic-treated children, and the risk was greatest for those who began antibiotic therapy at a young age.
Kidney stones, particularly those that occur at a young age, can be catastrophic. Furthermore, children who have already had kidney stones have a 50% probability of acquiring additional stones during the next five to seven years, which can result in a limited urinary tract and the need for invasive surgical intervention.
Experts are concerned about the dramatic rise in kidney stone frequency among young individuals, particularly adolescent females. Poor food habits, early antibiotic usage, and the consequences of global warming have all been connected to this increase. It is critical that individuals understand how to identify the signs of kidney stones in children. Kidney stones are becoming more common in young people, and avoiding them requires being mindful of what you eat and how much water you drink.
