Children’s Vulnerability to Environmental Exposures: Renal Effects

Oct 14m 2010

Source: NIH

National Library of Medicine

National Center for Biotechnology Information

Photo Source: Unsplash

Renal effects

In one London-based study, children 0–4 years of age showed hospitalization rates above baseline not only for respiratory but also for renal disorders in relation to increasing ambient summer temperatures (Kovats et al. 2004). In addition, Mandeville and Nelson (2009) report a positive correlation between increased ambient temperature and urolithiasis. Heat-related dehydration was the suspected underlying cause. Dehydrated children are vulnerable to renal effects because dehydration, especially if associated with increased perspiration, triggers lower urine volume and higher supersaturation of stone-forming salts (Fakheri and Goldfarb 2009). One study projected an increase in all-age urolithiasis incidence based on future temperature changes (Brikowski et al. 2008). We found no articles quantifying the climate-related burden of disease on children from urolithiasis or addressing other kidney disease.

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