While kidney stones are more common in adults, teens can also get them. Kidney stones form when a chemical imbalance in the blood and/or urine causes a crystal to develop and grow larger. At some point, the stone gets loose and tries to exit the body. There are two types of kidney stones, uric acid and calcium. Teens can develop both, and their symptoms may vary depending on which type they have.
Pain
In most cases, teens have no clue that they have a kidney stone until it is trying to pass, bringing with it much pain. If a stone is large enough to block the kidney or ureter, severe abdominal pain will ensue, according to KidsHealth.org. Pain during urination, in the male testicles, and in the lower back are usually signs that the stone is passing down the ureter according to TeenGrowth.com.
Calcium in the Urine
A build-up of excess calcium in the urine can lead to a calcium stone. Calcium stones are the cause of almost half of all teen kidney stones, according to TeenGrowth.com, making calcium stones the most common type of kidney stone. A doctor can test urine for traces of calcium, and can test a stone post-passing to determine its type.
Abnormal urinary tract
Many teens develop uric acid stones because of an abnormal urinary tract. When this abnormality doesn't allow urine to flush out of the kidney properly, the TeenGrowth website states, the urine will crystallize to form a stone. As with calcium stones, a doctor can test a stone once it has passed through the urine to determine its makeup.
Pain and Blood in the Urine
Kidney stones can also form after an infection, according to KidsHealth.org. Symptoms of stones formed during these conditions can include pain and/or blood in the urine.
