A kidney stone is essentially a hard rock that forms in the urinary tract. The National Institute of Health reports that more than 3.5 millon people a year seek medical help problems related to kidney stones. year. It is often described as the one of the most painful medical conditions, second only to childbirth. Although most kidney stones pass out of the body without intervention, some stones may cause significant complications.
Formation
In most people, natural chemicals in the urine prevent kidney stones from forming. Kidney stones form when the urine contains excess amount of certain substances including calcium, oxalate, cystine, struvite or uric acid, that overwhelm the ability of the urines natural defenses against stone formation. Dehydration can cause greater concentration of these substances and increases the risk of these substances clumping together and forming a stone. Tiny kidney stones usually can exit the body virtually unnoticed. Large or irregularly-shaped stones may get trapped in the kidney or ureter, the tube draining urine out of the kidney,and cause complications of pain, obstructed urinary tract, kidney damage or urinary tract infections.
Complications
Kidney stone complications result from the body trying to move the stone out of the urinary tract or from a stone obstructing flow of urine. Passage of a stone through the urinary tract results in severe pain. Obstruction of urine flow by a stone can also lead to a swollen, painful kidney. Chronic blockage of urine flow may lead to kidney scarring and loss of kidney function. People with obstructing stones also are at a greater risk of urinary tract infections because the stagnant flow of urine and damaged kidney tissue are perfect conditions for bacteria to thrive.
Symptoms
The classic symptom of a kidney stone is severe, sharp pain in the back, side or lower abdomen that may be associated with nausea or vomiting. Blood may be seen in the urine if the urinary tract is injured by a passing stone. The presence of fever or chills suggested an associated urinary tract infection. Often, kidney stones produce no symptoms.
Treatment
Patients should seek medical attention if symptoms of a kidney stone are present. Diagnostic tests will determine what kind of stone is present and where it is located. Treatment is aimed at alleviating symptoms and preventing permanent damage to the kidneys. Usually hydration and pain relief is all that is required and the stone eventually passes out of the body. Stone-dissolving medications may be prescribed for certain kind of stones. Surgical intervention is used for stones too large to pass out of the body. If surgery is required, stones are usually removed through the use of a scope inserted into the urinary tract or by use of sound waves to break up the stone into smaller pieces for easier passage. Rarely, open surgery is required. Antibiotics are frequently used to treat or prevent an associated urinary tract infection.
Prevention/Solution
Kidney stones are likely to recur so prevention is important if possible. Drinking plenty of water-enough water to produce at least two quarts of urine a day-is a mainstay of prevention. Medication may be used to help prevent certain kinds of stones. Dietary modifications may be recommended depending on the kind of stone diagnosed. In patients with oxalate stones, stone formation is decreased by avoidance of oxalate-containing foods including rhubarb, instant coffee, chocolate, spinach, beets and peanuts. At one time, avoidance of calcium-rich foods was recommended for patients with calcium stones. The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse says, however, that studies have demonstrated only calcium pills or calcium-containing antacids increase the risk of stone formation in such patients.
