Renal disease, neuromuscular disorders, and urinary tract obstructions can cause low creatinine in children. However, creatinine levels may vary depending on a person’s age, gender, and health status. Usually, men have higher creatinine levels than women, and children have lower levels than adults (1) (2). Creatinine is a waste product produced in the body during muscle metabolism. It is transported in the blood to the kidneys and eliminated from the body. Urine tests and blood tests help determine the amount of creatinine in the body. Read this post to know the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of low creatinine in children.
Causes Of Low Creatinine Level In Children
The normal blood creatinine level in children between three and 18 years is 0.5 to 1.0 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), and for children below three years, it is 0.3 to 0.7 mg/dL (1). Sometimes, the serum creatinine (blood creatinine) level drops below normal due to the following causes (1) (3) (4) (5):
Low muscle mass (occurs due to malnutrition, inadequate physical activity, neuromuscular diseases, etc.) Liver failure Insufficient protein in the diet (generally due to a strict vegetarian diet) Excessive weight loss Impaired renal function
Furthermore, the creatinine clearance (urine creatine) level may drop due to the following causes (6):
Kidney disease
Blocked urinary tract Heart failure Dehydration.
Symptoms Of Low Creatinine Level In Children
Low creatinine levels in children do not cause specific symptoms. The symptoms are an outcome of the underlying condition, which are as follows (7) (8) (9):
Poor posture, fatigue, and loss of muscle strength for low muscle mass Liver enlargement, itching, fatigue, and jaundice for chronic liver disease Being underweight or overweight, poor growth, lethargy, and tooth decay for poor nutrition
Diagnosis Of Low Creatinine Level In Children
Two types of tests help diagnose the creatinine levels in children: Children are advised to do the following before the test (6) (11):
Refrain from eating overnight Avoid meat for 24 hours Drink plenty of fluid for urine collection
Since low creatinine levels generally indicate muscle loss, further assessments such as a muscle biopsy, blood tests, and an electromyogram can determine the reason (12).
Treatment Of Low Creatinine In Children
Your child’s healthcare provider may advise treatments based on the causes.
If a child has liver problems, medications, lifestyle changes, and surgery help treat the condition (13). In case of loss in muscle mass, medications, physical therapy, surgery, support of a walker and walking machines, and nutritional counseling are suggested (12). Physical activity is recommended for increasing the body’s serum creatinine level (14).
If the creatinine level is low due to malnutrition, having a balanced diet by adding fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, eggs, starchy food, and dairy products will help control the condition (15).
Creatine supplements may be given; however, such supplements have not yet been determined safe for children under 18 years. A study in 2012 found that 62 out of 1103 middle and high school students in the US used creatine supplements, but as their safety is still questionable, intake may lead to further problems (16).
High Creatinine Levels: Causes And Symptoms
High levels of creatinine in the body can be determined with a blood test. The causes of high creatinine levels in children are (1) (4)
Chronic kidney disease Muscle disease Blocked urinary system Diabetes Dehydration Excess protein in the diet Overactive thyroid Congestive heart failure (the heart works harder than normal to pump blood) Medications
High levels of serum creatinine may indicate renal disease without noticeable symptoms in the beginning. However, as the disease progresses, it produces these symptoms (4) (11):
Unexplained fatigue
Dehydration Less urine Dark urine Swollen feet, face, and eyes Loss of appetite Nausea Itching
