There is nothing particularly unique and different about the symptoms of kidney disease in teens as these symptoms are very similar to those experienced by adults. Learning about these symptoms with your teen will reap rewards as the teen takes greater control over the management of their disease.
Proteinuria
According to the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, urine in the protein is a red flag for kidney disease for everyone--and teenagers are no exception. Just as little kids often get very high fevers and bounce back, young adolescents can bounce back from very high levels of urine protein. Fortunately, teens tend to be very responsive to treatment of proteinuria.
High Blood Pressure
While hypertension or high blood pressure is common among adults, its sufficiently rare in teens that it warrants monitoring and followup because it can be associated with kidney disease. The National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases warns that if hypertension is not controlled, it can destroy the tiny filters in the kidney called glomeruli. Treating hypertension in teens is the same as for adults. A regimen of an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor--otherwise known as an ACE inhibitor--in combination with other drugs, if necessary, is usually very beneficial.
Hematuria
Hematuria is the medical name for blood in the urine. While in many instances, the red blood cells may be invisible to the naked eye, teens and other patients with kidney disease often have tea or cola-colored urine. The Foundation for IgA Nephropathy notes that for many patients, hematuria may only be present if the disease is flaring up, as is often the case with diseases such as IgA nephropathy. These flare-ups are usually associated with upper respiratory infections.
References
- National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Proteinuria
- National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Hypertension
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Hematuria
- Foundation for IgA Nephropathy: Symptoms of IgAN
- Foundation for IgA Nephropathy: Types of IGAN
