The kidneys play a critical role in the body: Acting as the
body's filtering system, they help control water levels and
eliminate wastes through urine. They also help regulate blood
pressure, red blood cell production, and the levels of calcium
and minerals. But sometimes the kidneys don't develop properly
and, as a result, don't function as they should. Often these
problems are genetic and not due to anything a parent did or
didn't do. Many of these problems can be diagnosed before a baby
is born through routine prenatal testing and treated with
medication or surgery while the child is still young. Other
problems may emerge later, such as symptoms of urinary
infections, growth retardation, high blood pressure, etc. In
some cases, the problems are more severe and require more
extensive surgical treatment. How the Kidneys Work The kidneys
are like the body's garbage collection and disposal system.
Through microscopic units called nephrons, the kidneys remove
waste products and extra water from the food a perso