UNPACKING THE LONG-TERM IMPACT OF EARLY KIDNEY DAMAGE ON ADOLESCENT HEALTH

When we look beyond the teenager, we generally see a life filled with busy activity, growth, and change. We see them at school, with friends, growing up. What we do not see-and what I, as a clinician, am increasingly concerned about-is the silent battles being fought in their body. What is most concerning, and too often overlooked, is the long-term consequences of kidney damage sustained in early childhood.

- DR. UDIT

This becomes a quiet issue but has very loud consequences for teens.

What does early kidney damage mean? Early kidney damage doesn’t have to be an overt and diagnosed disease. It may be due to several severe or recurring UTIs as a toddler. Or it might be due to a congenital problem - something they were born with - of the urinary system that we weren't aware of. Or we are increasingly seeing steady and continuous damage because of early childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes.

The kidneys are very resilient. They are so tough that a child can lose quite a bit of function before they ever feel “ill.” Since they remain quiet, we assume they are okay. This hidden harm does not magically evaporate. It is just lying in wait.

Adolescence is the time of rapid growth and hormonal chaos. The body is on a marathon each day, with no stoppage. It is this time of excessive demand from the body that old, silent, renal injuries show themselves.

Here's how it goes: