How to diagnose chronic kidney disease

There are several ways to diagnose the disease among children. In some cases, kidney problems are found even before the birth of the child via ultrasound, said Dr Sandeep Guleria, Senior Consultant, Kidney Transplant, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals..

In other cases, children are diagnosed with other conditions where kidney problems are more common.

According to the expert, the below-mentioned tests are usually run by pediatricians to diagnose chronic kidney disease depending upon a child’s health issues or symptoms:

Ultrasound and X-rays

One of the most potent ways of detecting CKD is via ultrasound or X-rays, where the pictures of the kidney help in showcasing any damage to it or its surrounding structures.

Urinalysis

Many a time, pediatricians suggests the analysis of a child’s urine which is collected to detect strands of protein. The presence of protein in the urine can be a sign of kidney damage.

Blood tests

Blood tests can show many things, including kidney function levels, chemical levels in the blood and red blood cell levels, all of which help in controlling kidney function levels.

Biopsy

In extreme conditions, a kidney biopsy can be conducted, where a small piece of kidney is taken out and examined under a microscope to determine the extent of damage that has happened to the kidney.