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Kidney disease in children: the signs, the causes, the treatment, and school
For anyone looking after a child who was just told they have kidney disease, or whose child has swelling, foamy or pink urine, pees much more or less, or wets the bed again. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK, part of the NIH) says kidney disease is not common in children, that many have few or no symptoms early on, and that with treatment and support a child can go to school, have friends, play sports, and live a full life. This page passes on, by name, what NIDDK says: what it is, which children get it and the causes; the signs and what it can lead to; the tests and the kidney doctor for children; the kinds of medicine, dialysis and transplant; and home, school, friends and feelings. It builds the words to say and the questions to ask, and prints a card to keep in your wallet.
A word with a dotted line under it, like this, opens its official definition, quoted from a U.S. government glossary.
Right now
- Your child has trouble breathing, has a seizure, is very hard to wake, or faints? Call 911 (ours). NIDDK says acute kidney injury can be life-threatening if left untreated.
- Your child pees very little or not at all, or the swelling comes on fast? Get care right away; if you cannot reach the provider, go to the emergency room, and say your child has kidney disease (ours).
- A sign of infection during peritoneal dialysis? NIDDK says to report it to the provider immediately.
- Worn down, or thinking of ending your life? You, or your child: call or text 988, any hour (ours).
More help
- The kidneys, on this site: Kidney disease · Nephrotic syndrome · One kidney · Glomerular disease · Kidneys, bladder and urine: find the right page.
- A child’s health: A child’s health: find the right page · A child’s bladder infection · When a child wets the bed · Getting ready for a kidney biopsy.
- School: Help at school · Letters to the school.
- Related: My medicines list · Get ready for your appointment · Caring for someone.
- Care and costs: When you need a doctor and can’t pay · Rides to medical care · Medical bills.
- In a crisis: Help right now (988, 911). All our free tools.
Kidneys, bladder or urine, and not sure this is the right page? The pages on this site for bladder infections, kidney stones, blood in the urine, bladder pain, bladder leaks, the prostate, kidney disease and bedwetting, on one list.
Looking after a baby or child? The pages on this site for a baby or child, on one list.
Other guides on this site that go with this page
Free to read. We chose these ourselves; no professional did. Each guide was written with AI and has not been reviewed by a professional. They are general information, not advice.
- Kidney failure: choosing a treatment (dialysis, a transplant, or conservative care): kidney failure (kidneys failing or about to fail; choosing between hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, a kidney transplant, or conservative management, care without dialysis): the signs and when to start, how to choose and change your mind, an advance directive, dialysis at a center or at home, the access, infection signs, the transplant waiting list and living donors, food by treatment, work, and paying for it (Medicare, Medicaid, the social worker).
- IgA nephropathy (Berger’s disease): the signs, the biopsy, and the treatment: IgA nephropathy, Berger’s disease (pink, cola-colored or foamy urine, swelling, or a kidney biopsy that showed it): what it is, who is more likely to have it, the signs and what it can lead to, the tests and the biopsy, the kinds of medicine and less salt, and food, family and research.
- Polycystic kidney disease (PKD): the types, the signs, the tests, and slowing it down: polycystic kidney disease (PKD; many fluid-filled cysts in the kidneys, often in the family; pain in the back or sides, headaches, high blood pressure, blood in the urine): what it is, the two types (ADPKD in adults, ARPKD in babies) and the genes, the signs and what it can lead to (kidney failure, brain aneurysms, liver cysts), the imaging and genetic tests and genetic counseling, pain medicine and the kidneys, a blood pressure goal, the steps that may slow it, food and drink, and the costs.
- Kidney stones: the signs, when it is an emergency, passing a stone, and preventing the next one: kidney stones: the signs, when it is an emergency, passing a stone, and preventing the next one.
- Hydronephrosis in newborns (a swollen kidney in a baby): the causes, the tests, and the treatment: hydronephrosis in a newborn (a swollen kidney in a baby, found on a pregnancy ultrasound or after birth): what it is and how common, when it is a sign of a problem, the causes, the tests before and after birth, and the treatment.
- Mineral and bone disorder in chronic kidney disease (CKD-MBD): the bones, the heart, the tests, phosphorus, and treatment: mineral and bone disorder in kidney disease (CKD-MBD): the bones, the heart, children, the tests, phosphorus in food, medicines, dialysis, and slowing it down.
- Renal tubular acidosis (RTA): when the kidneys do not remove acid, the three types, the tests, and the treatment: renal tubular acidosis (RTA), when the kidneys do not remove acid from the blood as they should: the three types, who gets it, the signs (low or high potassium) and the complications, the causes type by type, the blood and urine tests, and the treatment, prevention and food.
- IgA vasculitis (HSP): the rash, the belly and joint pain, the kidneys, and the treatment: IgA vasculitis, formerly Henoch-Schönlein purpura or HSP (a raised rash that does not turn pale when pressed, belly or joint pain, or blood in the urine, most often in a young child): what it is, the symptoms and when to get help, the tests and months of kidney checks, the treatment, and a later pregnancy.
- Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in children: the signs, when to get care, the hospital, and preventing it: hemolytic uremic syndrome, HUS (a child with bloody diarrhea from E. coli, then paleness, tiredness, bruises, swelling or less urine): what it is, the causes, when to seek immediate care, the tests, the hospital and dialysis, getting better, and preventing it.
- Ectopic kidney: what it is, the problems it can cause, the tests, and the treatment: an ectopic kidney (a kidney out of its usual place: a pelvic kidney, crossed renal ectopia), often found by chance or on an ultrasound in pregnancy: what it is, what causes it, how common it is, the problems it can cause (reflux, blockage, infections, kidney stones, injury), the symptoms, the tests, the treatment, and living with one working kidney.
- Multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK): what it is, the problems it can cause, how it is found, and the checkups: a multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK: a baby’s kidney filled with cysts that does not work), most often seen on an ultrasound in pregnancy: what it is, what causes it, how common it is, the problems it can cause (high blood pressure, the working kidney), the symptoms, how it is found, the treatment and the checkups, and food.
- Feeding a child with kidney disease: calories, protein, salt, potassium, phosphorus, vitamins, liquids, and babies: feeding a baby, child or teenager with chronic kidney disease (CKD): calories and growth, feeding tubes, protein and dialysis, sodium (less for some children, more for others), potassium, phosphorus and binders, why store-bought vitamins are not safe, liquids, babies and formula, and the lab reports.
- Helping a child live with kidney disease: school, IEPs and 504 plans, self-esteem, friends, sports, the treatment plan, and growing up: helping a child or teenager live with chronic kidney disease (CKD): how it can affect learning, mood and friendships; school, IEPs, 504 plans and missed days; self-esteem, friends, camps and bladder control; sports; the treatment plan; college and work; and who can help.
- Growth failure in children with kidney disease: what it is, what slows growth, growth charts, food, medicines, and growth hormone: growth failure in a child with chronic kidney disease (CKD): what it is and how common it is; who is more likely; what can slow growth; growth charts and percentiles; food, a feeding tube, medicines and growth hormone; puberty, feelings and a transplant; and starting early.
- Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in a child: urine flowing back toward the kidneys, the grades, UTIs, the tests, antibiotics and surgery, and good habits: vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in a child: urine flowing back from the bladder toward the kidneys; the grades; primary and secondary VUR; how common it is and who is more likely; UTIs and kidney scarring; the ultrasound and VCUG; antibiotics, surgery and bulking injections; and good habits.
- Kidney stones in children: the pain and the signs, when to get care right away, the four types, the tests, passing or removing a stone, and preventing the next one: kidney stones in a child or teen: what they are and the four types; how common they are and which children are more likely; the signs, when to get care right away, and what untreated stones can lead to; the urine, blood and imaging tests; passing a small stone or removing a larger one; and preventing the next one with liquids, food and medicine.
This page and its wording were written with AI (Claude) for Scarlet Beast (our AI policy). No doctor or nurse has reviewed it. The facts were read on October 18, 2026 on two NIDDK (NIH) pages, Kidney Disease in Children (last reviewed August 2022) and Helping Your Child Adapt to Life with Chronic Kidney Disease (last reviewed February 2023), both in English and in Spanish. The numbers (birth defects cause nearly 60% of childhood chronic kidney disease in the U.S.; diseases of the glomeruli about 45% in children over 12; Black children in North America two to three times more likely; about one-third of kidneys transplanted into children from living donors) are NIDDK’s. Ours: 911 for trouble breathing, a seizure, being very hard to wake, or fainting; getting care right away for very little or no urine or swelling that comes on fast; never stopping or changing a prescribed medicine on your own; asking for the name of the cause, about growth, vaccines, school letters and the team; 988 when it is too much; health centers when money is tight; and the order of the steps. What we left out: the references, the clinical-trial lists and the video, the guide on getting ready for work, and NIDDK’s outside links. This page saves nothing and loads no trackers.