Doctors warn of rise in kidney stones in young kids, as LA boy, 4, suffers golf ball sized crystal - and they say climate change and processed foods are to blame

Many people think of kidney stones as something that happens to adults, but doctors are warning they are becoming increasingly more common in children. 

Also known as renal calculus disease, nephrolithiasis, or urolithiasis, the issue will affect approximately 11 percent of Americans at some point in their lives.  

A kidney stone is a small, hard deposit of minerals and salts that form in the kidneys.

While most stones are small enough to pass in urine naturally, others, like the ones four-year-old Alex Zellers suffers from, are so large they have to be surgically removed. 

While experts can't point to one thing in particular, doctors say the environment, diets and medications are all contributing to the surge in kidney stones. 

Alex (pictured) has been dealing with painful kidney stones nearly his entire life as a result of a genetic disease called cystinuria, which means his body does not absorb certain amino acids

One stone in Alex's kidney was as big as a golf ball, while another in his bladder was the size of a lacrosse ball

Alex has been dealing with painful kidney stones nearly his entire life as a result of a genetic disease called cystinuria, which means his body does not absorb certain amino acids.

One amino acid, cystine, then builds up and crystallizes in the urine, causing kidney stones to form early in life, Dr Greg Tasian, a pediatric urologist with Children's Hospital of Philadelphia told KABC-TV.

One stone in Alex's kidney was as big as a golf ball, while another in his bladder was the size of a lacrosse ball. Because his stones were so large, he had to have them surgically removed by specialists at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

'It was just like a giant dense egg... a big mass,' said Kate, Alex's mother.

Because of his condition, Alex has recurrent urinary tract infections, blood in his urine and has suffered multiple kidney stones. There is no cure for cystinuria, but he can manage it through medication. 

Cystinuria is responsible for approximately one percent of all kidney stones, according to NYU Langone Health. 

Because Alex's stones were so large, he had to have them surgically removed by specialists at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

While Alex's condition is rare, affecting one in every 15,000 people in the US, Dr Tasian said he is seeing an increasing number of children with kidney stones in general.

The rise in kidney stones in younger people may be due to children eating more ultra processed food, the overuse of antibiotics and warmer temperatures, which can lead to dehydration. 

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High amounts of sodium from processed foods such as potato chips, meats and sports drinks can lead to extra minerals in the urine that can become kidney stones. 

Some research has also linked disruptions in the intestinal microbiome - the ecosystem of microbes in the intestines - to the occurrence of kidney stones. The disruptions could be caused by antibiotic overuse, studies imply.

Being dehydrated due to low fluid intake leads to more concentrated urine, which can result in a saturation of minerals which ultimately form kidney stones.

'As the world becomes warmer through climate change, that is expected to increase the number of stones,' Dr Tasian said.

Kidney stones are caused by waste products in the blood forming crystals. Over time, crystals build up to form a hard stone-like lump. 

Once a kidney stone has formed, the body will try to pass it naturally through urine. Most are small enough to do so and can be managed at home.

When they get too big, however, they can become extremely painful and surgery is usually needed to remove them.

Common symptoms include abdominal, flank, or groin pain, blood in the urine, frequent urination, nausea and vomiting.

Dr Tasian recommends people try to drink plenty of water, drink less sugary drinks and lower their salt intake to try and decrease the risk of kidney stones.