Kidney stones
Kidney stones form when urine becomes supersaturated with certain substances. These substances then cause the formation of concretions. These are small stones that form when certain substances precipitate and become solid substances. These substances are then usually found in the kidney (nephrolithiasis) or in the urinary tract (urolithiasis) and can block it. Kidney stones are a common condition, affecting men more often than women, usually between the ages of 30 and 50.
Men are more likely to form stones than women. People who become dehydrated as a result of hot climates, their work, or other medical problems such as diarrhoea, are also at increased risk. Being overweight, putting on weight, doing a sedentary job, and having uncontrolled diabetes, all make stones more likely. Some families are at risk of precipitating certain stones.
How do kidney stones form?
Kidney stones can form when the organism has too much of some substances or becomes oversaturated with some substances. Normally, these substances are soluble in urine. If their concentration in urine increases, they can no longer be dissolved in urine and accumulate in some places (precipitation). Initially, a kind of salt stone is formed, to which other substances are subsequently attached. The kidney stone thus increases in size.
There are certain risk factors that can contribute to the formation of kidney stones. These include increased excretion of stone-forming substances and , at the same time, reduced excretion of substances that prevent stone formation (substances that inhibit crystallization).
Other favouring factors are deviations in the pH value of the urine, a high concentration of urea and a disturbance of the urine outflow (urinary stasis). It should be noted that stone formation is multifactorial. This means that several factors occur simultaneously and stone formation occurs. Furthermore, genetic factors, gender, age, diet, and climate play a role in the formation of kidney stones.
Symptoms
Very small kidney stones are unlikely to cause many symptoms. It may even go undetected and pass out painlessly when you urinate.
Symptoms Usually Occur If The Kidney Stone:
- Gets stuck in your kidney
- Starts to travel down the ureter (the tube that attaches each kidney to the bladder) – the ureter is narrow and kidney stones can cause pain as they try to pass through
Causes an infection In these cases, the symptoms of kidney stones can include:
- A Persistent Ache In The Lower Back, Which Is Sometimes Also Felt In The Groin – Men May Have Pain In Their Testicles And Scrotum
- Periods Of Intense Pain In The Back Or Side Of Your Abdomen, Or Occasionally In Your Groin, Which May Last For Minutes Or Hours
- Feeling Restless And Unable To Lie Still
- Nausea (Feeling Sick)
- Needing To Urinate More Often Than Normal
- Pain When You Urinate (Dysuria)
- Blood In Your Urine (Haematuria) – This May Be Caused By The Stone Scratching The Kidney Or Ureter
Treatment
- Ureteroscopy (URS)
- Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL)
- Laser And Keyhole Surgeries