How to Deal with Kids with Kidney Disease?

Will my child have difficulties at school?
Kidney disease itself doesn't usually cause problems with learning, but children who have had kidney disease from a young age may spend so much time in hospital that they struggle with school work. They usually catch up as they get older.

How to help If your child misses school, do all you can to help them with their school work. Talk to their teachers as early as possible to make a homework plan that your child get on with while they're in hospital. Make sure your child is getting as much extra educational support as possible from the school. The hospital teachers can also help and advise you.

If you have concerns about your child's development or learning, talk to your child's school.

Should children with kidney disease do sport?

It’s tempting to be overprotective of a sick child. In general, however, sport and exercise is great for children with kidney disease. Bear in mind, however, that they may get tired more easily than their friends and classmates.

How to help Encourage your child to do all the activities their friends do. If your child is on dialysis, swimming might not be possible. In some cases, particularly after a kidney transplant, children should also avoid contact sports. Otherwise, they can safely take part in most sports.

What if my child refuses their medicine?

Taking medicines is part of life for most children and young people with kidney disease. They can find this a strain and can stop taking their medicines.

How to help Try to work out why they don't want to take their medicines. Children, especially teenagers, may stop taking their medicines because they can cause unflattering changes in appearance. Talk to them about why taking their medicines is important for their health and what will happen if they don't. Be careful not to scare your child into taking their medicines.

Explaining to older children and teenagers why they need to be responsible for taking their own medicines can make them more likely to keep taking their tablets.

It can also help to involve the renal team that's looking after your child as they will have had lots of experience in tackling this problem with other children and young people.

It's very important that you let the renal team know immediately if you think your child isn't taking their medicines.

Who can my child talk to about kidney disease?

All children's kidney teams have different professionals on hand to chat to your child. These include doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, play specialists, teachers and some youth workers.

How to help Arrange for your child to talk to a member of the kidney team. It can also help if they meet a young adult who had chronic kidney disease during childhood or another child of their own age. You can find contacts through your doctor, or local support group .

How do I explain kidney disease to my other children?

Brothers and sisters of children with kidney disease may feel left out and worried. They need time with you to talk over their worries and to feel part of the overall plan.

How to help Your child's kidney team is there to help the whole family. Ask the play specialist, psychologist or social worker to spend time talking to your child's brothers and sisters and answering their questions.