Chronic kidney symptoms may be caused by kidney stones. These stones usually form when the volume of fluid in urine is decreased and salts and minerals accumulate in the kidney, instead of being dissolved into the urine. Kidney stones commonly occur in middle-aged men and are hereditary in some cases. As listed by the Cleveland Clinic, kidney stones can cause characteristic immune symptoms such as infection that and require medical attention.
Abdominal and Flank Pain
Individuals with kidney stone infection commonly have a sudden onset of severe, chronic pain that is located on one side of the lower back or lower abdomen. The pain may persist for up to a few minutes at a time, is not relieved by changing body position and is more common at night. As discussed at MedicineNet.com, the pain may also gradually spread from the lower back to the side of the lower abdomen as the kidney stone infection spreads to the ureter, which is the narrow muscular tube connecting the kidney to the bladder.
Fever and Chills
Fever and chills are symptoms of more severe kidney stone infections, as noted by the MayoClinic.com. The stones irritate and inflame the tissue of the kidneys and also impede urine flow increasing the risk of bacterial infection in the kidneys. The infection causes further damage to the urinary tract and produces toxic chemicals that leach into the blood stream leading to fever and chills.
Nausea and Vomiting
The pain of a kidney stone infection can be so severe that it causes nausea and vomiting, as noted at the MayoClinic.com. Symptoms of nausea may increase if the infection spreads throughout the kidney and is carried to the urinary tract.
Painful Urination
MedicineNet.com also lists painful urination or dysuria as a symptom of kidney stone infection. This causes difficulty during urination and a burning sensation. Dysuria is most common when the infection from the kidney stone travels to the urinary tract causing inflammation in the bladder or cystitis. It can also occur when the infection is due to the kidney stone alone. The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) notes that the irritation of the bladder may also cause the urge to urinate more frequently and inability to completely empty the bladder due to pain when urinating.
Malaise
A kidney stone infection causes general over-all body weakness, discomfort and tiredness or malaise. MedicineNet.com suggests that this occurs because much needed energy is diverted to the immune system to produce more immune cells that circulate in the bloodstream to fight the infection.
