Now 25, Pleskoff, a Seattle native who has endured more than 30 kidney stones, is part of a troubling trend in pediatric health. Kidney stone cases are rising among children, and some medical professionals implicate a familiar culprit: ultra-processed foods. Other experts trace the increase to genetics, poor diet and insufficient water intake.

“We see, everyday, children presenting with kidney stones,” Zachary V. Zuniga, a pediatric urologist at Texas Children’s Hospital, said. Some return repeatedly to the emergency room, and while not all require surgery, others will be hospitalized and need antibiotics.