Kidney stones :- Types,Symptoms, causes, Diagnosis, Prevention

Kidney stones :- Types,Symptoms, causes, Diagnosis, Prevention :-

What are kidney stones?

Kidney stones are a build-up of crystals in the kidneys that form hard lumps, which in turn can cause pain and problems in the urinary system.

Kidney stones are fairly common and affect around 15% of men and 10% of women during their lives.

Small stones can be as tiny as a grain of sand and may remain in the kidneys without causing any symptoms. Pain can occur as stones get bigger.

Some stones may be as big as a golf ball. If the stone moves around or gets stuck in the kidney or ureter, this can cause pain.

Kidney stones can also cause infections.

Problems with kidney stones are most common between the ages of 30 and 60.

Types of kidney stones

Kidney stones are classified by the substance that forms them. The main types of kidney stones are:

• Calcium stones
• Struvite stones
• Uric acid stones
• Cystine stones

Depending on the type, stones may be harder or softer, bigger or smaller, and more or less likely to cause pain or infections, and the treatment may differ.

Symptoms of kidney stones

Although the stone is in the kidney or ureter, pain from the stone or any infection is usually felt elsewhere.
The symptoms of kidney stones include:

• Painful lower back ache
• Groin ache
• Testicle or scrotum ache in men
• Pain felt on the side of the abdomen
• Unable to find a comfortable position, restlessness
• Nausea
• Urinating more often
• Painful urination
• Blood in urine
• Cloudy urine
• Smelly urine
• Fever
• Shivering
• Chills
• Weakness
• Diarrhoea

Seek urgent medical attention if there's fever, quickly worsening pain with or without chills or shaking.

What causes kidney stones?

Causes of kidney stones include:

• Not drinking enough fluids every day (dehydration)
• Some medications causing substances to build up in the kidneys
• Following a high-protein, low-fibre diet
• Inactivity
• Family history of kidney stones
• Kidney infection
• Kidney disease
• Urinary infections
• Previous kidney stones
• Having only one kidney working
• Digestive system bypass operations
• Crohn's disease and other digestive conditions
• The genetic condition hypercalcuria causing extra calcium in the urine
• Overactive parathyroid gland affecting calcium in the body
• Sarcoidosis
• Gout
• Some cancers, chemotherapy treatment for cancer
• Cystinuria, a condition affecting acid in the urine.

Diagnosis of kidney stones

A diagnosis of kidney stones will be based on the symptoms, medical history and tests, including:

• Urine tests
• Testing for stone type of any stones or fragments passed in urine, this can be collected in an old pair of tights or in a piece of gauze
• Blood tests for kidney problems
• CT scan
• X-ray
• Ultrasound scan
• Intravenous urogram (IVU), intravenous pyelogram (IVP), enhanced X-rays taken after special dye is injected into the arm.

Prevention of kidney stones

Kidney stones can’t always be prevented, but the main way to help stop kidney stones forming is to drink plenty of fluids every day, especially on warm days and after exercise.
If you've already had kidney stones, or if a doctor believes you are at a higher risk of stones, further prevention steps may be recommended. These may include:

• Under medical supervision, reduce foods containing oxalates that contribute calcium to the diet. This includes beetroot and soy.
• Under medical supervision, reduce the amount of meat, poultry and fish you eat.
• Diuretics (water tablets)
• Medication to lower uric acid or cysteine levels

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