Kidney stones, or renal lithiasis, may be caused by stones made of calcium, uric acid, struvite or cystine (called "cystinuria") crystals, and can be hereditary. They are often found in premature infants and are caused by dehydration. Symptoms do not usually present until the stones have traveled down the ureter tubes, blocking the flow of urine and causing pain. Consult a physician if you are experiencing kidney stone signs and symptoms.
Frequent Urge to Urinate
A persistent, compelling urge to urinate can be a sign or symptom of kidney stones. If this symptom occurs only at night, it is called "nocturia," according to Medline Plus, a website of the National Institutes of Health. This symptom may be noticed in older men due to prostate problems, or be experienced due to diabetes or pregnancy. The combination of both frequency and the urgent need to urinate are common signs of a urinary tract infection, which can be a result of a kidney stone irritating the tissues and organs within it.
Painful Urination
Experiencing painful urination can also be a symptom of kidney stones. This means that you feel pain or burning while urinating. It may also be a sign of a urinary tract infection, vaginitis, an enlarged prostate and even urethritis caused by a sexually transmitted diseases. If painful urination is caused by a kidney stone, it will usually last more than one day and be accompanied by blood in the urine.
Blood in Urine
Medline Plus explains that blood in the urine may be caused by kidney and urinary tract problems, such as kidney stones, or may be due to a blood disorder. Blood in the urine may be detected by the naked eye in pink or otherwise discolored urine, and may also only be detected microscopically by your doctor.
Other Signs and Symptoms of Kidney Stones
The Mayo Clinic lists other common symptoms of a kidney stone as severe back or side pain, pain radiating to the abdomen or groin area, nausea and vomiting and fever in the presence of an infection caused by the stones. If the back pain you are experiencing is due to a kidney problem, it will originate below the ribs, and may be severe.
