It is a disease known as the silent killer and one that knows no age boundaries.
Kidney disease affects millions of people worldwide, and children are no exception.
March 10th is World Kidney Day, a day that aims to bring global awareness to the importance of kidney health.
During World Kidney Day, the Kidney Foundation of Canada is focusing on kids and kidney disease, specifically how the disease affects children and their families.
Kidney disease has no signs or symptoms during its early stages. For a child with pediatric kidney disease, it may make children feel tired, nauseous or unwell. Chronic Kidney Disease in children can also affect their lifestyle. Due to physical challenges such as a slower growth rate and dietary restrictions, everyday school and activities can be disrupted by an inability to concentrate or by repeated absences for medical treatments.
“Kidney disease, like any serious condition, can bring about many different feelings in children, including confusion, anger, fear, and sadness,” said former Board President of Kidney Foundation of Canada, Dr. Morrison Hurley.
“Children want to be ‘normal.' This is more difficult while coping with kidney disease, dialysis or transplantation, and families may have to make changes to their schedule and lifestyle. These young patients and their families need special understanding and support.”
The Kidney Foundation of Canada is hoping raising awareness of pediatric kidney disease will take the “kids out of kidney disease.” The foundation runs a Kidney Kids Camp, inviting children with kidney disease ranging from age 8 to 18 to spend a week swimming, hiking, canoeing and hiking. It provides an opportunity to forget about treatments and sickness, and just have fun.
“There’s two things that I like most about the Kidney Camp that I’ve gone to for the past three years and that’s the activities and the food,” said 12-year-old kidney patient, Jason Luc.
“I love zip-lining, canoeing and horseback riding. The food is really good and the desserts are the best.”
The role of the kidney in the body is to remove toxins and excess water from the blood. They also help to control blood pressure, produce red blood cells and keep bones healthy. A person who suffers from kidney disease loses function over their kidneys over months or years. When kidney function falls below a certain point, it is called kidney failure.
