Hearing that your child has a kidney stone can be worrying, because most people think of stones as an adult problem. Stones in children are still uncommon, but more children are being diagnosed than before. This guide explains the signs to watch for, why a child may form a stone, how doctors find and treat it, and what you can do at home to lower the chance of another.
How a kidney stone can show up in a child
Older children often describe sharp pain in the back, side, lower belly or groin that may come and go in waves. Younger children may not be able to say where it hurts. The NIDDK notes that irritability can be a sign, especially in young children, along with:
- pink, red or brown urine
- a constant urge to pass urine, or pain when passing it
- passing only small amounts of urine
- cloudy or bad-smelling urine
- nausea, vomiting, fever or chills
The general guide to kidney and ureteric stones explains how stones form and move.
Why some children form stones
According to the NIDDK, most stones in children form when urine holds high levels of calcium, oxalate or phosphorus. Stones can occur at any age, including in infants, but they are much more common in teenagers. The NIDDK says a child is more likely to form a stone with:
- a family history of stones or a previous stone
- low water intake, frequent sugary or caffeinated drinks, or a salty diet
- obesity, or long periods of not moving, such as being in a cast after surgery
- a blockage or unusual shape of the urinary tract, or repeated urine infections
- inherited or medical conditions such as cystinuria, hypercalciuria, cystic fibrosis or bowel inflammation
The NIDDK also notes that the number of affected children has risen in recent years, possibly linked to salt in processed food, rising obesity and less active lifestyles. Struvite stones follow upper urinary tract infection and, the NIDDK notes, tend to affect children whose urinary tract did not develop normally. The page on stone types and stone analysis describes each type.
When to get urgent medical care
The NIDDK advises that a child with stone symptoms should see a health professional right away, because the same symptoms can come from a more serious condition. Go to an emergency department the same day if your child has:
- fever or chills with tummy, side or back pain, which can be a sign of infection
- vomiting and cannot keep fluids down; the NIDDK notes a dehydrated, vomiting child may need hospital care and fluids through a drip
- severe pain that does not settle
- very little or no urine, or great difficulty passing it
Fever and urine symptoms in a child can also be a urine infection without a stone. See urine infection in children.
How doctors diagnose a stone in a child
The doctor asks about symptoms, past health and family history, examines your child and arranges tests. Both the EAU 2026 guidelines and the NIDDK describe ultrasound as the first imaging test in children, because it uses no radiation and needs no anaesthetic.
| Test | What it can show |
|---|---|
| Urine test | Blood, crystals and signs of infection |
| Blood tests | Kidney function and minerals that can cause stones |
| Ultrasound | Stones in the kidney, ureter or bladder and any swelling of the kidney |
| X-ray | Some stones; the NIDDK notes not all stones show on X-ray |
| CT scan | Size and exact position of a stone; the NIDDK notes it uses more radiation, so it is kept for when it adds information |
Because a stone in childhood often has an underlying cause, the EAU 2026 guidelines recommend a metabolic evaluation, based on stone analysis, in all children with stones. This usually includes a 24-hour urine collection, which the NIDDK says measures urine volume, stone-forming minerals and urine acidity.
Treatment options
Treatment depends on the stone’s size and position, your child’s symptoms and whether the urine flow is blocked. The NIDDK explains that small stones may pass on their own with extra fluids and pain relief prescribed by the doctor. Your child may be asked to pass urine through a strainer so the stone can be caught and sent for analysis.
Larger stones, stones that block urine or stones causing severe pain may need a procedure. The NIDDK describes shock wave lithotripsy, ureteroscopy with a thin scope passed through the urethra, and percutaneous nephrolithotomy for larger kidney stones, all done under anaesthetic. A soft tube called a stent is sometimes left in for a short time afterwards. The page on stone treatment compares these options, and the paediatric urology page explains how children are cared for. The centre’s urologists, who see children, can assess which approach suits your child.
Helping your child avoid another stone
The NIDDK calls drinking enough fluid each day the most important habit for preventing stones. The NHS advises that children drink 1 to 2 litres of water a day, and the NIDDK suggests teenagers drink about six to eight 8-ounce glasses a day; younger children should follow their doctor’s advice. Children with kidney failure or bladder control problems should agree a fluid plan with their doctor, as the NIDDK advises.
- Aim for urine that is pale or almost clear.
- Offer extra water in hot weather and during sport, which the NIDDK says raise fluid needs.
- Choose water over sugary, fizzy or caffeinated drinks.
- Keep salt and processed snacks low.
- Do not cut dairy without advice: the NIDDK states dietary calcium does not raise the risk of calcium oxalate stones.
Any diet change or medicine should be based on the stone type and urine results, and decided by the doctor. See the stone prevention diet for general food advice.
Frequently asked questions
Can a baby or toddler get kidney stones?
Yes. The NIDDK states that stones can occur in children of any age, including infants, although they are much more common in teenagers. In very young children the signs may be irritability, vomiting or discoloured urine, so these, especially with fever, should be checked promptly by a doctor.
Is ultrasound enough to find a kidney stone in a child?
Ultrasound is the first test recommended for children by the EAU 2026 guidelines because it avoids radiation. If the result is unclear and more detail would change treatment, the doctor may suggest a CT scan, which the NIDDK notes involves more radiation.
Will my child keep getting kidney stones?
Some children do form more stones, especially when there is an underlying cause such as a metabolic or inherited condition. That is why the EAU recommends a metabolic evaluation in all children with stones. Finding the cause allows the doctor to plan fluids, diet and, if needed, treatment to lower the risk.
Should my child stop drinking milk after a kidney stone?
Not without medical advice. Dairy foods are an important source of calcium for growing children, and the NIDDK states that calcium in food does not raise the risk of calcium oxalate stones, the most common type. The doctor will advise on diet once the stone type and urine test results are known.
How much water should a child with kidney stones drink?
The NHS advises that children drink 1 to 2 litres of water a day, and the NIDDK suggests about six to eight 8-ounce glasses for teenagers. Younger children should follow their doctor's guidance. A simple check is urine colour: pale or almost clear urine usually means your child is drinking enough.
References
- Definition & Facts of Kidney Stones in Children – NIDDK
- Symptoms & Causes of Kidney Stones in Children – NIDDK
- Diagnosis of Kidney Stones in Children – NIDDK
- Treatment & Prevention of Kidney Stones in Children – NIDDK
- EAU Pocket Guidelines on Urolithiasis 2026
- Kidney stones – Prevention – NHS
Book a consultation
Prof. Samir Al-Samarrai and Dr. Amer Mousa assess urological conditions at Prof. Al-Samarrai Medical Center, Dubai Healthcare City, and discuss the options that suit your case. Medical consultations are confidential.
Read more: Urologist in Dubai: doctors, services, insurance and booking
This information is for health education and does not replace a medical examination. See our medical content policy.
Medically reviewed by: Prof. Dr. Samir Ahmed Al-Samarrai, consultant urologist. Review date: .
About the doctor
Prof. Dr. Samir Ahmed Al-Samarrai, consultant urologist. He studied medicine at the universities of Heidelberg and Johannes Gutenberg in Germany and graduated with distinction, earned his doctorate (PhD) with a research thesis in 1980, and on 23 August 1978 received his specialist certificate in the treatment and surgery of male urological diseases from the Free University of Berlin, at its medical school hospital, under the specialist regulations of the Berlin Chamber of Physicians.
Clinic: Prof. Al-Samarrai Medical Center, Al Razi Medical Complex 64, Building D, 2nd floor, No. 2018, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai. MOHAP licence: ZGU3I12X-291225.
This article is for health education and does not replace a consultation with a doctor. Last updated: 6 November 2026.
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