What does it mean when a child has high uric acid levels?

Under normal circumstances, elevated uric acid levels in children may be caused by high-purine diet, medication effects, obesity, hyperuricemia, glomerulonephritis, and other factors. It is recommended to seek timely medical attention and undergo targeted treatment after identifying the underlying cause. Specific analyses are as follows:

1. High-purine diet

When children consume high-purine foods over a long period—such as animal offal, seafood, meat, and alcohol—these foods produce excessive uric acid during metabolism. When uric acid production exceeds excretion capacity, uric acid levels rise. This condition may initially present without obvious symptoms. It is advisable to adjust dietary habits by reducing intake of high-purine foods and increasing consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits.

2. Medication effects

Certain medications used by children, such as diuretics and cyclosporine A, may interfere with uric acid metabolism, leading to elevated uric acid levels. Other drug-related side effects may also occur. It is recommended to adjust the medication regimen under medical supervision and avoid drugs that affect uric acid metabolism.

3. Obesity

Excessive body weight in children may lead to obesity, which promotes increased uric acid production in the liver and impairs renal excretion of uric acid, resulting in elevated uric acid levels. This condition may be accompanied by symptoms such as high blood glucose and hypertension. Maintaining a balanced diet, engaging in moderate physical activity, and managing body weight appropriately can help improve these symptoms.

4. Hyperuricemia

Hyperuricemia results from disorders in purine metabolism, causing increased uric acid production in children and consequently elevated uric acid levels. It is often associated with symptoms like obesity and elevated blood glucose. Under medical guidance, medications such as febuxostat tablets, benzbromarone tablets, and colchicine tablets may be prescribed for treatment.

5. Glomerulonephritis

In children, the formation of immune complexes in the body may trigger glomerulonephritis. The resulting inflammation can impair glomerular filtration function, reduce uric acid excretion, and thus elevate uric acid levels. This condition is typically accompanied by symptoms such as hematuria and proteinuria. Treatment should follow medical advice and may include medications such as Nephritis Recovery Tablets, losartan potassium hydrochlorothiazide tablets, and tacrolimus capsules.

In daily life, appropriate physical exercise can be incorporated to enhance physical fitness and boost immune function.