BALTIMORE, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Kidney stones in children used to be considered a medical aberration, but they have become a fairly common condition, say U.S. researchers.
"More and more children with kidney stones are coming to us," says kidney specialist Dr. Alicia Neu, co-director of the kidney-stone clinic at The Johns Hopkins Children's Center.
"While this is somewhat unexpected, it is not totally surprising given that so many other conditions are on the rise in children due to poor diet, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and obesity."
Kidney stones are rarely a serious condition but can be extremely painful and can cause urinary-tract infections.
To prevent kidney stones Neu suggests:
-- Consuming no more than 2.4 grams of sodium a day, or 6 grams -- 1 teaspoon -- of table salt a day.
-- Stay away from salty snacks, such as chips and pretzels, which are loaded with sodium.
-- Avoid processed foods, including smoked and cured meats, as well as sodas and canned products that have the highest sodium content.
-- A child needs to drink 64 ounces of water a day, but sugar-laden juices and sodas don't count as proper hydration.
