tailieunhanh - Nutrition for Chronic Kidney Disease in Children

When a parent has PD, the tendency can be for kids to help out more with things their parents can no longer do. When Michelle L.’s husband is out of town, her older son helps tie his little sister’s shoes and button her shirt, and he feels good about helping. The children are definitely learning inde- pendence. “They love that they get to cook certain things, and sometimes even fight over who gets to do the dishes,” she says. Jaci has seen changes in her children. “My daughter has definitely gotten more independent. She does a lot around the house that she wouldn’t have had to, and I think it has. | Nutrition for Chronic Kidney Disease in Children What is chronic kidney disease CKD Chronic kidney disease is any disease that causes the kidneys to function less efficiently over a long period of time. In the early stages of CKD the kidneys continue to work. They just don t do their job as well as healthy kidneys. Because the decline in kidney function happens slowly a child s body may adapt without causing any change in the way the child looks or feels. Over time small changes such as small increases in blood phosphorus can build up to unhealthy levels. As the kidney disease worsens the child may develop more severe symptoms of CKD such as weak bones lack of appetite lack of energy and slowed growth. Why is nutrition important for children with CKD Health problems from CKD can be prevented or delayed by eating the right foods. Every child needs good nutrition but learning about nutrition is vital for the parents or guardians of a child with kidney disease because the child s diet can affect kidney function. In turn the kidneys can affect the child s health and growth. The kidneys do many things to keep the body working properly. The kidneys remove wastes and extra water from the blood and make urine. They balance the salts sodium potassium calcium and phosphorus that circulate in the blood. . Department of Health and Human Services NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH And they control the release of natural chemicals called hormones that help make red blood cells control blood pressure and keep bones strong. When the kidneys don t work normally a child s growth may slow down. The child s health care team will work with the child s caretakers to make sure the child gets the right amount of nutrients to maintain growth. At different times the team may suggest changes in both the amount and the types of food the child needs to eat. Learning about nutrients in foods will help caretakers understand what changes need to be made to their child s diet. Caretakers should .