Introduction

kidney stones, UROLITHIASIS, CALCIUM OXALATE, NEPHROLITHIASIS, Stone - kidney/ureter, calculus of kidney and ureter,nephrolithiasis#renal colic#renal lithiasis,

Kidney stones can develop in one or both kidneys and most often affect people aged 30 to 60.

They're quite common, with around three in 20 men and up to two in 20 women developing them at some stage of their lives.

The medical term for kidney stones is nephrolithiasis, and if they cause severe pain it's known as renal colic.

Symptoms of kidney stones

Small kidney stones may go undetected and be passed out painlessly in the urine. But it's fairly common for a stone to block part of the urinary system, such as the:

  • ureter the tube connecting the kidney to the bladder
  • urethra the tube urine passes through on its way out of the body

A blockage can cause severe pain in the abdomen or groin and sometimes causes a urinary tract infection(UTI) .

Over time, the crystals may build up to form a hard stone-like lump.

This is more likely to happen if you don't drink enough fluids, if you're taking some types of medication,or if you havea medical condition that raises the levels of certain substances in your urine.

This means it will often travel through the urinary system (the kidneys, kidney tubes and bladder).

Treating and preventing kidney stones

Most kidney stones are small enough to be passed in your urine, and it may be possible to treat the symptoms at home with medication.

Larger stones may need to be broken up using ultrasound orlaser energy. Occasionally, keyhole surgery may be needed to remove very large kidney stones directly.

It's very important to keep your urine diluted (clear) to prevent waste products forming into kidney stones.

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Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 25 Nov 2016