Kidney stones are sometimes excreted in the urine without causing any symptoms. However, if the stone is large in size, it may cause obstruction when it passes through the kidney and into the ureter. The ureter is a thin tube-shaped organ that connects the kidney and bladder. If the kidney stone gets stuck in this small tube, it blocks the flow of urine and urine begins to collect in the kidney.
This condition causes a sudden onset of sharp pain in the back at waist level, on the sides or under the ribs. The pain may radiate to the abdomen and groin. Pain or a burning sensation may occur while urinating. Apart from these, other symptoms seen in case of stones in the urinary tract include pink/red urine, foul odor or cloudiness in the urine, constant feeling of urgency, nausea and vomiting, and fever. A combination of conditions that pose a risk for stone formation in the urinary tract may cause stone formation. Excessive amounts of substances such as calcium, uric acid, and oxalate that can form crystals in the urine and low amounts of substances that prevent crystal formation in the urine may result in the formation of stones in the urinary tract." Kurt continued as follows:
"Calcium stones are the most common type of stones, usually seen as calcium oxalate crystals. Consuming oxalate-rich foods such as chips, peanuts, chocolate and spinach increases the risk of calcium stone formation. Uric acid stones are more common in men than in women. This disease can also be seen in people with gout disease and those receiving chemotherapy treatment. Eating a diet rich in protein may pose a risk for uric acid stones. Struvite stones are stones that can form due to urinary tract infection. Since they are usually large in size, they can cause obstruction in the urinary tract. Cystine stones are a rare type of stone.
It is a condition observed in people with the genetic disease called cystinuria. A person's chance of developing kidney stones increases if they have one or more risk factors. These factors include personal or family history of kidney stones, low fluid consumption, different types of nutrition, e.g. "Consumption of very salty food, obesity, digestive system disorders, previous stomach and intestinal surgeries, having some genetic diseases such as cystinuria, and the use of certain group medications such as diuretics, antiepileptics, calcium-based antacids may lead to the formation of kidney stones."
Kurt noted the following regarding the diagnosis and treatment of stones in the urinary tract:
In diagnosis, blood and urine tests are first requested. Ultrasound or computerized tomography examinations are used to visualize the stone in the urinary tract. Treatment depends on the size of the stone. It varies depending on the stones and the damage they cause. In the treatment of stones that are small in size and do not cause a serious condition, the patient is advised to drink plenty of water. Small stones may come together and become larger when they sit in the urine. Consuming a lot of liquid causes frequent urination. Those who pass small stones are given painkillers to alleviate the severe pain caused by the stone. Large stones can be treated in different ways depending on the location of the stone and the damage it causes.
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