Kidney Stones: Symptoms, Types and Diagnosis

A kidney stone is a concentrated, hard matter that is formulated from compounds in the urine. Urine has various debris and faeces deliquesced in it. When there is ample junk in meagre liquid, crystals initiate to crop up. The crystals captivate supplementary elements and band together to forge a solid that will get heavier unless it is transmitted out of the body with the urine.

 Usually, these compounds are obliterated with the urine by the body's master cleaning agent: the kidney. In maximum people, having enough fluid rinses them out or supplementary chemicals in urine resist a stone from cropping up.

 After it is formulated, the stone may dwell in the kidney or slip down the urinary tract into the ureter. Sometimes, diminutive stones stride out of the body in the urine without inflicting too much pain. But stones that don't proceed may induce a back-up of urine in the kidney, ureter, bladder, or urethra. This often stimulates the pain.

 Symptoms of Kidney Stones:

Few kidney stones are as little as a grain of grit. Some are as big as a pebble. A few are as huge as a golf ball! As an extensive rule, the gigantic the stone, the more apparent the symptoms.

 Kidney stones may cause harsh and overwhelming pain. Symptoms of kidney stones may not emerge unless the stone initiates to slip down the ureters. This terrible pain is called Renal Colic.

In men, pain may flicker to the groin region. The pain of Renal Colic sets in motion but can be severe. People combatting Renal Colic may face restlessness.

The symptoms as described by Dr Sujit Chatterjee, CEO of LH Hiranandani Hospital Kidney Care might be all or a few of the following:

•           AIntense pain on either side of the lower back

•           Blood in the urine

•           Nauseousness or vomiting

•           Frequent fever and chills

•           Urine has a bad odour

•           Urine appears to be cloudy

 

Types of Kidney Stones:

 

Kidney stones are of distinct kinds and colours. Their treatment and avoidance of fresh stones from forming depend on what category of stone you have.

 (80 per cent of stones) Calcium stones -

Calcium stones are a vastly widespread kind of kidney stone. There are two sorts of Calcium Stones: Calcium Phosphate and Calcium Oxalate. Many people have too much calcium in their urine, increasing the threat of calcium stones. Even with regular amounts of calcium in the urine, calcium stones may develop due to additional reasons.

(5-10 per cent of stones) Uric Acid Stones -

Uric acid is a junk product that comes from chemical transformations in the body. Uric acid crystals do not deliquesce well in acidic urine and rather they will form a uric acid stone. Having acidic urine may stem from:

         Obesity

         Persistent diarrhoea

         Type-2 diabetes (high blood sugar)

         Gout

         A diet high in animal protein and meagre in fruits and vegetables

(10 per cent of stones) Struvite/Infection Stones -

Struvite stones are not a widespread category of stone. These stones have pertained to chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs). Some bacteria make the urine trivial acidic and excessively alkaline. Magnesium ammonium phosphate (struvite) stones feature in alkaline urine. These stones are usually large, with branches, and they often germinate very soon.

People who get protracted UTIs, such as those with long-term tubes in their kidneys or bladders, or people with bad bladder vacating due to neurologic illnesses (paralysis, multiple sclerosis, and spina bifida) are at the increased threat of formulating these stones.

(less than 1 per cent of stones) Cystine Stones -

Cystine is an amino acid that is in distinct foods, it is one of the constituents of protein. Cystinuria is a rare, inherited metabolic condition, it portends too much cystine in the urine. When high quantities of kidney cystine are present in the urine, it results in stones to formulate. Cystine stones often initiate to crop up in childhood.

Diagnosis of Kidney Stones:

If the doctor infers that you have a kidney stone, you may have to undergo some diagnostic tests and methods, such as:

•   Urine testing - The test may reflect that you're excreting too many stone-formulating compounds or limited stone-preventing substances. For this test, your doctor may ask you to execute two urine sample collections for two consecutive days.

•   Blood testing - Blood tests may indicate an excess of calcium or uric acid in your blood. Blood test results enable you to oversee the fitness of your kidneys

•   Imaging - Imaging tests may exhibit kidney stones in the urinary tract. High-speed computerized tomography (CT) may reflect even diminutive stones.

Simple abdominal X-rays are employed less often because this sort of imaging test can overlook tiny kidney stones.

Ultrasound, a non-invasive test that is short and simple to conduct, is another imaging alternative to diagnose kidney stones.

•   Examination of passed stones – This involves urinating through a strainer to capture stones that you may pass. Lab inspection will disclose the composition of your kidney stones. Your doctor utilizes this information to infer what's inducing your kidney stones and to construct a strategy to stave off further kidney stones.

Hiranandani Hospital Kidney Transplant has an Illustrious and esteemed team of world-class kidney care doctors who are efficient and highly skilled in treating patients facing any sort of kidney ailments including End Stage Renal Disease.