Definition:
Kidney stones (also called renal lithiasis) are small, hard deposits of mineral and acid salts on the inner surfaces of the kidneys.
Diagnosis:
Many kidney stones go unnoticed until they cause acute symptoms — specifically, the pain of a stone going through the ureter. Occasionally, however, kidney stones are discovered in the course of looking for the cause of chronic urinary tract infections or blood in the urine.
Treatment:
Treatment for kidney stones varies, depending on the kind of stone and the cause. The person may be able to move a stone through the urinary tract simply by drinking plenty of water — as much as 2 to 3 quarts (1.9 to 2.8 liters) a day — and by staying physically active.
Symptoms and Signs:
Until a kidney stone moves into the ureter — the tube connecting the kidney and bladder — the patient may not know he has it. At that point, these signs and symptoms may occur: pain in the side and back, below the ribs; fluctuations in pain intensity, with periods of pain lasting 20 to 60 minutes; pain waves radiating from the side and back to the lower abdomen and groin; bloody, cloudy or foul-smelling urine; and pain on urination.
Causes:
Kidney stones take place when the components of urine — fluid and various minerals and acids — are out of balance. When this happens, urine contains more crystal-forming substances, such as calcium and uric acid, than the available fluid can dilute.
