About Polycystic Kidney Disease in Children

Polycystic Kidney Disease, which comprises two main clinical entities ADPKD (Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease) and ARPKD (Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease), can occur in both adult and children. It is a hereditary disease, so patients are born with PKD gene.

ADPKD, as the most common type of PKD, also occurs in children, but mostly in adult. For children with ADPKD, they suffer from similar symptoms with adult suffering from ADPKD, and they are back pain, proteinuria, blood in urine, anemia, high blood pressure, poor appetite, and finally kidney failure if left uncontrolled.

ARPKD, different from ADPKD, usually occurs in infant and is always combined with congenital hepatic fibrosis which can result in portal hypertension and underdeveloped biliary tract. In cases of ARPKD, about a half of infant diet of kidney failure or respiratory failure within several hours or several days.

Children who are diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease need to adjust their dietary habits and living habits, so as to protect their kidneys from further damages. Generally speaking, they need to drink more water to prevent kidney stone that occurs easily when kidney function decreases. Damaged kidney fail to bear heavy burden, because of which, they are generally suggested to reduce protein intake and salt intake. The specific intake of salt and protein is up to their illness condition. Generally speaking, protein is no more than 0.7g/kg/d, salt is about 3g every day if there is high blood pressure and edema.

Also, if children with Polycystic Kidney Disease have symptoms like elevated blood pressure, proteinuria and blood urine, keeping them under control is very beneficial. Although these symptoms occur because of decreased kidney function, in return, they worsen kidney damages. Therefore, it is necessary to get these symptoms controlled.

For children with Polycystic Kidney Disease, their cysts enlarge over time, which can lead to kidney failure directly. Children have a long way to go in their life, so it is necessary to get Polycystic Kidney Disease controlled and then make a good prognosis for their further life.