Deposits of salts and minerals that have hardened inside the kidneys are called kidney stones, also known as nephrolithiasis, renal calculi, or urolithiasis. Several factors can contribute to the formation of kidney stones, including medical conditions, excess body weight, an unhealthy diet, and certain medications and supplements.

What are the Types of Kidney Stones?

Knowing the type of kidney stone can help in its prevention. Patients and doctors can use this information to prevent future kidney stones. One effective way to do this is by saving the kidney stone and having it analyzed.

There are several kinds of kidney stones:

• Uric Acid Stones: People who lose a lot of body fluid due to chronic diarrhea are at risk. Other factors include diabetes, metabolic syndrome, a high-protein diet, and certain genetic factors.

• Struvite Stones: These can form quickly and grow large without symptoms, usually following urinary tract infections.

• Cystine Stones: Caused by a hereditary disorder called cystinuria, which leads to excessive secretion of a specific amino acid by the kidneys.

• Calcium Kidney Stones: The most common type, usually made up of calcium oxalate. Factors like high vitamin D intake, diet, metabolic disorders, and intestinal bypass surgery can increase the concentration of calcium oxalate in urine.

What are the Symptoms of Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones cause symptoms only when they move within the kidney or get stuck in the ureter, the tube connecting the kidney to the bladder. If they block urine flow, it causes the kidney to swell and the ureter to spasm, resulting in extreme pain. Symptoms include:

• Pain radiating in the groin and lower back

• Burning sensation during urination

• Waves of pain varying in intensity

• Sharp pain in the lower back, side, and below the ribs

• Red, brown, or pink urine

• Foul-smelling, cloudy urine

• Continuous urge to urinate

• Frequent urination or urinating in small amounts

• Vomiting and nausea

• Fever, if an infection is present

What are the Causes of Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones form when the liquid part of urine is insufficient to dissolve crystal-forming substances like calcium, oxalate, and uric acid. Factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, smoking, old age, and abnormal kidney structure can increase the risk.

When Should You Consult a Doctor?

Consult a Urologist doctor immediately if you experience:

• Severe pain that makes it impossible to sit still

• Nausea, vomiting, and severe pain

• Fever along with pain

• Blood in the urine

• Difficulty in urination

A nephrologist, urologist, pediatrician, or emergency medicine doctor may treat the condition based on its severity.

How Can Kidney Stones be Treated?

Treatment depends on factors like the size and type of stone, pain levels, and urinary tract blockage. Small stones may pass on their own with prescribed pain medication and increased fluid intake. Larger stones might require procedures such as:

• Surgery: Rarely, a tube is inserted into the kidney to remove the stone, requiring a hospital stay of two to three days.

• Lithotripsy: Shock waves break large stones into smaller pieces that can be passed in urine, performed under general anesthesia.

• Ureteroscopy: A tube is inserted into the ureter to remove the stone, or a laser breaks it into small pieces for flushing out.

Conclusion

Early detection of kidney stones makes them easier to treat. Doctors can prescribe pain medication and advise increased water intake to help the stone pass naturally. If not detected early, stones may grow larger and require surgical removal.

Request an appointment at:

Raj Hospitals Ranchi

Call 097714 88888 to book an appointment.