Hydronephrosis in young children: a dangerous disease that parents should pay attention to

Hydronephrosis in young children is a disease that needs to be detected early for prompt treatment before the disease turns into a stage of kidney failure. Therefore, finding out information about this disease is one of the essential things that you should do to protect your baby's health.

For young children, paying attention to taking care of the child's digestive system and excretory system is extremely important. If you notice that your baby has unusual signs such as feeling uncomfortable or crying when urinating, it is best to see your baby because if you do not pay attention, these symptoms can lead to many dangerous complications.

Kidney retention in young children

Kidney fluid retention is the condition in which urine is not excreted, but accumulates, blocking the vessels in the kidney, causing kidney damage or swelling. This blockage usually occurs in the ureter (the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder). In newborn babies, the main cause is congenital disease. It can affect one or both kidneys. In addition to the congenital cause, there are also many other causes of this disease.

The cause of kidney fluid retention in young children

There are many reasons for water retention:

One of the most common causes is the presence of kidney stones . If the stone is too large, it can block the ureter, causing swelling of the kidneys.

Water retention can also be caused by a tumor or cyst pressing into the ureter, causing an obstruction.

Another cause of fluid retention may be the presence of blood clots or scarring. This condition is often difficult to detect.

Some babies are born with a narrow ureter, which is more likely to become blocked.

Symptoms of water retention in the newborn

Some of the symptoms of dehydration kidney disease in young children:

Crying when urinating and painful symptoms

Pain in the lower abdomen. Your baby may cry when you gently touch or press against his or her lower abdomen

Urinating more often than usual

Nausea is common

Vomiting

Fever.

If the condition is not treated promptly, symptoms will get worse. Therefore, you should pay attention to observe children for early detection and appropriate treatment plan.

One of the most common side effects of dehydrated kidney disease in young children is that it can lead to urinary tract infections . Some of the common symptoms of this disease:

Backache

Fever

Cloudy urine

Pain during urination, manifested by crying or discomfort

Diagnosis of hydrocephalus in young children

Kidney fluid retention in young children can be caused by a variety of causes. Therefore, the diagnosis needs to be done in 2 steps. The first step is to identify the condition, and then determine the cause. Diagnosis can be made during pregnancy or postpartum.

Prenatal diagnosis

During pregnancy, dehydration of the kidneys is usually diagnosed through a routine pregnancy ultrasound . If there is something wrong with the size of your baby's kidneys or amniotic fluid, your doctor will order more frequent checkups for follow-up.

Diagnosis after birth

Your doctor will use cutting-edge tests to make an accurate diagnosis of what causes water retention in your baby. Your doctor may recommend some of the following tests:

Kidney Ultrasound (RUS):  This test focuses on your baby's kidney system to give the doctor the complete picture.

A bladder-urethra X-ray when urinating (VCUG):  During the procedure, the doctor will insert a small tube into your baby's bladder and then pass the fluid through the tube into the bladder. This fluid will appear on the X-ray when the bladder is filled and when your baby pee.

MAG 3:  With this method, your doctor injects a small amount of radioactive isotope into your baby's blood. From there, the doctor will compare the function of both kidneys as well as determine the severity of the disease.

Complications of dehydration kidney disease in young children

If the watery kidney is not treated in time or properly cared for, the baby's kidney can be seriously damaged. In addition to stopping the function of filtering blood, removing toxins, excreting waste products, and regulating the amount of red blood cells, this disease can also lead to permanent kidney failure and infection .

Treatment of fluid retention in a newborn

The treatment used for your baby will depend on the stage and the cause of the disease. Some of the treatments your doctor may prescribe:

Monitoring:  If the disease is mild or moderate, the doctor will monitor the baby's kidney system regularly. In addition, the doctor may also give your baby low-dose antibiotics to prevent urinary tract infections.

Surgery:  Doctors will prescribe surgery to treat fluid retention in severe cases. If fluid retention is caused by kidney stones, your doctor may recommend laparoscopic surgery to remove the stone. In addition, one of the most popular surgical methods to treat hydrocephalus nephrology today is the pelvic-ureter surgery technique through the retroperitoneal endoscopy.

Hydronephrosis in young children can cause dangerous complications. Therefore, to prevent the disease from becoming serious, you should take your baby to see a doctor as soon as you see your baby showing unusual signs. Most of the cases, the baby with watery kidney will go away on its own and the baby will only undergo surgery when directed by a doctor. It is important that you have your baby perform all the tests ordered by the doctor and take your baby for regular checkups.