Creatinine is a substance that maintains protein balance and has an effect on metabolism. If the level of creatinine in the blood is normal in children, then pathologies in the development of muscle mass and the body are not observed. Any deviations from acceptable values can provoke serious diseases. In order to timely detect anomalies, a regular visit to the attending doctor and the passage of the necessary studies, including blood biochemistry for creatinine, are indicated.
general information
By such indicators as urea and creatinine, metabolic processes occurring in the body are evaluated. Creatinine and urea are the first to respond to impaired liver function, kidney disease, as well as muscle dystrophy. An increase in excess of urea and creatinine in children indicates a violation of the breakdown of substances in the body of the individual. Directly, the work of the kidneys is assessed by the level of creatinine. Often deviations from the norm, identified as a result of the analysis, indicate renal failure. In addition, the following factors influence the outcome:
- a large amount of muscle tissue;
- meat ration;
- kidney failure.
Children's doctors are advised to take the test several times to be sure of the result, since it is influenced by infectious and chronic diseases, fatigue. Red blood cell concentration also affects creatinine levels. An excessive number of red blood cells indicates an infectious process in the body. In this case, the treatment is primarily aimed at eliminating the infection and restoring red blood cells to normal.
Analysis preparation
Preparatory measures:
- Exclude food intake four hours before analysis.
- To minimize the intake of protein substances in the body.
- Limit physical activity so as not to injure the muscles.
- Reduce fluid intake.
Implementation of these simple recommendations will provide an adequate analysis result.
The rate of creatinine (μmol / l)
A certain level of creatinine is maintained in the body of an individual throughout life. Thanks to this substance, tissue metabolism is carried out and the acid-base balance is maintained. The norm of creatinine in children by age:
- Up to 28 days of life - from 27 to 88. Newborns who have received great physical exertion at birth have an increased level of creatinine, which decreases after a few months.
- Up to a year - from 18 to 35. This indicator can fluctuate depending on the speed of weight gain and muscle volume, as well as on the nutrition and activity of the baby.
- From 1 to 12 years old - from 27 to 62. This range lasts a long period. The lower limit of the indicator is typical for girls.
- From 12 to 18 years old - acceptable limits are from 44 to 88. For adolescents who have reached puberty, the norm is in the range of 50–72.
- As they grow older, the blood creatinine norm in children rises. For males, acceptable indicators have the following boundaries - from 75 to 110, for females - from 60 to 80.
Minor deviations from normal values may be present, since the creatinine level directly depends on the complexion of the child, i.e., the more muscle mass, the more it is formed. Significant deviations from the permissible values are an occasion to consult a treating doctor for timely diagnosis of pathology and the appointment of adequate therapy.
Endogenous creatinine clearance
Another name for this test is the Reberg test, as a result of which the effectiveness of renal blood flow, i.e. the level of glomerular filtration, is evaluated. The method is based on the calculation of the clearance of endogenous creatinine. Norm in children (unit of measure - ml / min / 1.7 m 2 ):
- from 65 to 100 - for babies up to a year;
- from 34 to 81 years of age and older (boys);
- from 88 to 146 from a year and older (girls).
To determine the clearance, the concentration of creatinine in urine and blood is calculated, as well as the volume of urine excreted per day.
Due to the fact that in a healthy body creatinine enters urine after it passes through the glomeruli, its insufficient excretion in urine and an increase in blood levels signal a low filtration in the kidneys. Glomerular filtration is calculated according to a special formula, and since its minute volume depends on weight and height, you need to know these values in a child. Age norms in children are given in terms of the standard surface of the body. Assign this analysis for some endocrine pathologies, as well as to assess renal function and the effect of large physical exertion on the children's body.
Causes of increased creatinine in the blood in children
The norm may be overestimated in the following situations:
- Improper nutrition leading to excess intake of precursor substances. This phenomenon is temporary and is not associated with pathological abnormalities of the kidneys. The precursor substances, which include amino acids, enter into various chemical reactions in the body and break down to creatinine. These substances enter the child’s body with food products containing an increased amount of protein, for example, with dairy products, meat, etc. Injured muscles, as well as connective and muscle tissue with a pathology such as hyperthyroidism, contribute to the increased breakdown of creatine phosphate and creatine to creatinine. The above factors cause a high level of creatinine in the child's body. However, it should be remembered that in this case, this indicator does not reflect the work of the kidneys. In order to confirm the absence of the disease, the analysis is repeated after ten days.
- Failure to remove toxic substances from the body of the individual. In this case, the renal pathology acts as a provocateur, as a result of which the renal filter is damaged, and the process of elimination of toxins is disturbed.
Causes of creatinine excretion disorder
Pathologies that contribute to the delay of creatinine in the body of the child:
- Congenital malformations of the kidneys are aplasia or hypoplasia, i.e., the absence or underdevelopment of the organ, as well as polycystic and others. Identify these pathologies using ultrasound.
- Hyperthyroidism The increased production of hormones by the thyroid gland activates the processes of protein breakdown throughout the children's body. As a result, the concentration of creatinine increases.
- Hereditary Jade. With this pathology, the baby is affected by the hearing aid and kidneys. Glomerulonephritis develops, provoking a deterioration in the elimination of toxic products from the body.
- Renal failure.
- Urolithiasis disease.
- Heart failure.
- Shock after injury.
In addition, creatinine in the analysis is found to be above normal after taking strong antibacterial agents, with great physical activity, in overweight individuals, with hormonal failure, growth retardation and severe dehydration.
How to lower creatinine?
With increased creatinine, a child may experience:
- fatigue;
- lack of appetite;
- pain in the lumbar region;
- swelling
- increase in pressure.
Initially, the doctor finds out the cause of high creatinine, since its overestimation is a consequence of some disturbances in the body. If kidney disease is suspected, additional examinations are prescribed and, when the diagnosis is confirmed, appropriate treatment is prescribed, including in a hospital setting. Small patients are prescribed medications that normalize protein metabolism: Ketosteril, as well as vitamins C and D.
Harmful and healthy products
To bring the blood creatinine level in children to normal, in addition to pharmacotherapy, the baby is recommended a special diet that unloads the kidneys and cleanses the body. From the diet of the child should be excluded:
- chips;
- smoked and fried foods;
- canned food;
- whole milk;
- fatty meats and fish;
- tea and coffee drinks;
- baking;
- crackers;
- fast food;
- sweets.
The following products are desirable to limit:
- eggs
- sugar;
- poultry meat;
- salt;
- low-fat fish.
It is necessary to include in the diet:
- cheese and cottage cheese (low-fat varieties);
- plant food;
- dairy products;
- butter and olive oil;
- Berry drinks
- honey;
- various cereals.
Food is recommended to be steamed, boiled or stewed. Following a diet helps cleanse the toxins from the baby’s body and normalize kidney function.
Alternative methods of treatment
In the fight against increased excess creatinine in the blood in children, alternative recipes are also used:
- rice broth - drink daily on an empty stomach 100 ml;
- Medicinal charges, which are ready-made, can be purchased at a pharmacy.
However, doctors recommend using them only for preventive purposes, and not as the main treatment.
The next non-traditional method is osmotherapy, i.e. taking therapeutic baths with various essential oils and herbal preparations. As a result, the baby's condition improves, the work of the kidneys and circulatory system is restored.
Massage, which helps to relax and normalize kidney function, also refers to alternative treatments. It is not recommended to use the above methods to reduce the creatinine level in a child without the consent of the treating doctor.
Causes of Low Creatinine
Lower than normal creatinine in a child is rare and is mainly associated with a lack of muscle mass. An insignificant decrease in indicators is a consequence of errors in nutrition. To normalize it:
- provide physical activity (by age) to increase muscle mass;
- include more meat products in the diet.
However, it must be borne in mind that some congenital pathologies of the liver and heart provoke a decrease in this indicator.
Preventive actions
In order to avoid deviations of creatinine from the norm, doctors recommend that the child:
- timely treatment of colds;
- adequate physical activity;
- proper nutrition;
- regular visits to the doctor and passing the necessary tests;
- stable emotional state;
- restoration of water balance.
The kidneys are an important organ that plays a large role in the functioning of blood circulation, the formation of the whole organism of the individual, as well as the volume of muscle tissue. The norm of creatinine in children is one of the important indicators in the diagnosis. Diseases that affect its level are quite serious and require long-term therapy.