Overview:
Kidney stones (also called renal calculi, nephrolithiasis, or urolithiasis) are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside your kidneys.
Diet, excess body weight, some medical conditions, and certain supplements and medications are among the many causes of kidney stones. Kidney stones can affect any part of your urinary tract — from your kidneys to your bladder. Often, stones form when the urine becomes concentrated, allowing minerals to crystallize and stick together.
Passing kidney stones can be quite painful, but the stones usually cause no permanent damage if they’re recognized and treated fast enough. Depending on your situation, you may need nothing more than to take pain medication and drink lots of water to pass a kidney stone. In other instances — for example, if stones become lodged in the urinary tract, are associated with a urinary infection, or cause complications — surgery may be needed.
Your doctor may recommend preventive treatment to reduce your risk of recurrent kidney stones if you’re at increased risk of developing them again.
Symptoms of kidney stones:
Some kidney stones are as small as grains of sand, and others are large as a pebble. As a general rule, the larger the stone, the more noticeable the symptoms.
The symptoms of kidney stones include:
- severe pain on either side of your lower back
- more vague pain or stomach ache that doesn’t go away
- blood in the urine
- nausea or vomiting
- fever and chills
- urine that smells bad or looks cloudy
The kidney stone starts to hurt when it causes irritation or blockage. This builds rapidly to extreme pain. In most cases, kidney stones pass without causing damage-but usually not without causing a lot of pain. Pain relievers may be the only treatment needed for small stones. Other treatment may be needed, especially for those stones that cause lasting symptoms or other complications. In severe cases, however, surgery may be required.
Possible causes of kidney stones:
Possible factors that could lead to the development of kidney stones include insufficient water intake, excessive or insufficient exercise, obesity, weight loss surgery, and consuming foods that are high in salt, sugar, or fructose. Infections and family history may also play a role for some individuals.
Types of kidney stones and treatment:
There are four main types of kidney stones: calcium oxalate, uric acid, struvite, and cystine. Calcium oxalate stones are the most common and can be caused by inadequate calcium and fluid intake, as well as other conditions. Uric acid stones are also common and can be caused by consuming foods high in purines, which can lead to an increase in monosodium urate production and potential stone formation. Struvite stones are caused by infections in the upper urinary tract, while cystine stones are rare and tend to run in families.
Diagnosis of kidney stones typically involves a medical history review, physical examination, and imaging tests. Doctors will want to know the size and shape of the stone, which can be determined through a high-resolution CT scan or a kidney-ureter-bladder x-ray. Blood and urine tests will also be conducted to evaluate kidney health and determine treatment options. Once the stone is passed, it can be analyzed and additional tests may be conducted to determine the underlying cause.
Treatment of kidney stones:
The treatment for kidney stones is generally the same for both children and adults. Patients may be advised to increase their water intake and medications may be prescribed to make the urine less acidic. In most cases, doctors will attempt to let the stone pass naturally without surgery. However, surgery may be necessary if the stone is too large, causing a blockage, or if there is an infection present.
One noninvasive treatment option is shock-wave lithotripsy, which involves using high-energy sound waves to break the stones into smaller fragments that can be more easily passed out of the body in urine. Another option is ureteroscopy, where an endoscope is inserted through the ureter to remove or break up the stone. For larger or more complex stones, percutaneous nephrolithotomy/nephrolithotripsy may be used, which involves a surgical procedure to remove the stone through a small incision in the back.