Premature babies face higher risk of kidney disorders, doctor warns

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Paediatric nephrologist at Pondok Indah Hospital, Dr. Henny Adriani Puspitasari, Sp.A., Subsp.Nefro, has stated that babies born prematurely face a higher risk of kidney disorders because the organ formation process is not yet complete at birth. “We know that kidneys also have a formation period. They develop from eight weeks to 36 weeks of gestation,” Henny said during a kidney health discussion in Jakarta on Friday. According to the University of Indonesia medical school graduate, advances in healthcare mean more premature babies and those with low birth weight can survive into adulthood. However, this also demands greater attention to their long-term kidney health. “If a baby is premature, it means their kidney function has not finished developing,” she said. She explained that kidneys are composed of millions of nephrons, which function to filter blood and remove waste products from the body. Babies born prematurely risk having fewer nephrons compared to those born full term. In addition to premature babies, Henny noted that infants with low birth weight also require more careful health monitoring as they share similar risk factors for kidney disorders. The doctor, who is also a member of the Indonesian Paediatric Society (IDAI), urged parents to routinely monitor their child’s growth and development and conduct regular health checks, especially if the child has a history of premature birth or low birth weight. “Children with risk factors need to be monitored earlier so that if there is impaired kidney function, it can be detected and treated as early as possible,” Henny said.