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The fellowship-trained, board-certified pediatric nephrologists with Norton Children’s Nephrology have the training and experience to treat children experiencing congenital anomalies of the kidneys and urinary tract.
Congenital anomalies are differences in the kidneys and urinary tract that children can be born with. These congenital anomalies can affect the function of the kidneys and urinary tract. Congenital anomalies are one of the most common causes of chronic kidney disease, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Babies typically are born with two kidneys. The kidneys filter waste in the blood, create essential hormones the body needs to regulate blood pressure and help produce red blood cells. Here are some of the most common kidney abnormalities in children:
Children can be born with anatomical differences that can cause kidney issues, including:
Congenital anomalies of the kidneys and urinary tract are most often detected in a prenatal ultrasound. When found this way, pediatric nephrologists and/or pediatric urologists can monitor the expectant mother for signs of insufficient amniotic fluid. (Amniotic fluid is mostly made up of urine produced by the baby.)
Should an anomaly go undetected before birth, a child may show symptoms in infancy or childhood, including:
The pediatric nephrologists with Norton Children’s Nephrology can work with you and your child to create a unique treatment plan. Depending on your child’s type of anomaly, treatment may include:
When these kinds of congenital anomalies are not detected early or treatment is unable to prevent kidney damage, a child may experience chronic kidney disease or kidney failure that requires dialysis and kidney transplantation.