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Comprehensive Care for Pediatric Kidney Disease
At South Texas Health System Clinics we diagnose, treat and manage kidney disorders and conditions in children. These can include chronic kidney disease, kidney stones, hypertension and metabolic bone disease. We can help patients transition from pediatric care to the care of an adult nephrologist or urologist as they get older.
Kidney Conditions We Treat
Kidney Disease
When your kidneys are unable to filter blood the way they are intended to, you may have kidney disease. The kidneys filter extra water and waste out of your blood to make urine. They also produce hormones to help control your blood pressure and strengthen bones.
Children have a greater risk of getting kidney disease if they have diabetes or high blood pressure. Potential treatments for kidney disease include dialysis or kidney transplant.
Hypertension
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, occurs when blood pushes too hard against the walls of your arteries and blood vessels. It can put extra strain on your heart, which can lead to thickening of the heart muscle, damage to arteries, and reduced oxygen and nutrients getting to your vital organs.
Treatments include making lifestyle changes such as eating better and exercising more, and medications when necessary.
Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are formed when materials such as calcium become concentrated in the urine and turn into crystals. The crystals can then develop into larger stones.
Kidney stones may pass through the urinary tract on their own, but other times some form of intervention is needed. The stones may be broken into smaller pieces using shock wave therapy, so they can then pass through the urinary tract. They can also be broken or removed through a procedure using a small tube that is inserted through the urethra.
Metabolic Bone Disease
Metabolic bone disease occurs when the bones don’t get enough vital vitamins and minerals such as calcium and vitamin D. This can lead to bone loss or fractures.
Types of metabolic bone diseases include osteoporosis, rickets and hyperparathyroidism. Treatments may include physical therapy, bone-strengthening treatments, using hormones to promote growth, and surgery when needed.
Diagnosing and Treating Kidney Disease
Renal Genetic Panel
We can perform a renal genetic panel to help determine heritable causes of renal or kidney disease. It can also help us determine the chance of the disease coming back, the prognosis and the best way to treat the disease.
Genetic testing is recommended for anyone with chronic kidney disease and patients with a family history of kidney disease.
Pediatric Dialysis
Dialysis is used on patients with kidney failure who are waiting for a transplant. A machine is used to perform the work of the kidneys when they are unable to do it themselves. This includes removing waste and excess water from the blood.
Dialysis can also be used to treat patients with acute kidney injury.
Therapeutic Apheresis
Therapeutic apheresis is a process whereby the blood is purified. Pathogenic components of the blood are removed and then the clean blood is returned to the patient.
This is a non-surgical treatment that is used to prevent disease from occurring or lessen the effects of an existing disease, such as metabolic disorders and autoimmune diseases.
