Kidney Stones - Adult

Kidney stones form inside the kidneys or other parts of the urinary tract. They are made form a crystal-like substance. There are different types of kidney stones.

Kidney StoneCopyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Causes

The cause will vary with the type of stone. Calcium oxalate or phosphorus stones may form if there are:

  • High amounts of calcium or other minerals in the urine

  • Low levels of minerals that stop stones from forming

Struvite stones may form with a urinary tract infection (UTI).

Uric acid stones are caused by acid in the urine. They may also be caused by gout or chemotherapy.

Cystine stones are caused by a rare genetic disorder. It causes a buildup of cystine which leads to stones.

Risk Factors

Kidney stones are more common in men under 50 years old or anyone with:

  • Past kidney stones

  • Family history of kidney stones

  • Infections

  • Bedrest

Calcium oxalate or phosphorus stones are more common in those with:

  • High amount of sodium and oxalate in your diet (oxalate can be found in green, leafy vegetables, chocolate, nuts, or tea)

  • Not drinking or keeping enough fluids and dehydration

  • Overactive parathyroid gland

  • Long term gut disorders such as Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis

  • Diuretic medicine

  • Calcium-based antacids

Struvite stones are more common in women. It is more common in those with past UTIs.

Uric acid stones are more common in those with:

  • High amounts of red meat or poultry in diet

  • Gout

  • Rapid weight loss

  • Chemotherapy

Symptoms

Most kidney stones will not cause symptoms. Other stones may cause:

  • Sharp, stabbing pain in the mid-back

  • Pain in the lower belly, groin, or genital areas

  • Nausea and vomiting

  • Blood in the urine

  • Increased need to urinate

  • Burning pain during urination

  • Fever

Diagnosis

You will be asked about your symptoms and past health. A physical exam will be done. Urine may be tested to look for infection or blood. The doctor may suspect a stone based on your symptoms. Images of the urinary tract will show if a stone is present. Tests may include:

  • X-ray

  • Spiral CT scan

  • Ultrasound

  • Intravenous pyelogram (IVP)

Blood tests may also be done to look for a cause.

Kidney Stones - Child

Kidney stones are crystallized material in the urine. These stones form in the kidneys or other parts of the urinary tract. Kidney stones may be made up of a variety of minerals in the blood. The most common are calcium, oxalate, or phosphate. Others stones may contain uric acid, struvite, and/or cystine.

Kidney StoneCopyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Causes

Some of the known causes of kidney stones in children include:

  • Too much oxalate in the urine

  • Too much calcium in the urine or blood

  • Too much uric acid in the urine

  • Tiny bacteria a stone can form around

  • Inherited abnormality in the way the body handles cystine

  • Foreign bodies in the urinary tract, such as stents or catheters

  • Abnormal function of the urinary tract, such as neurogenic bladder

Risk Factors

Factors that may increase your child’s chance of developing kidney stones include:

  • Dehydration —not drinking enough fluids

  • Eating foods high in salt

  • Eating a ketogenic diet to help control epilepsy

  • Mineral content of water your child drinks (hardness or softness of the water)

  • Having family members who have had kidney stones or gout

  • Having kidney stones in the past

  • Being overweight

  • Medical conditions, such as urinary tract infections or metabolic conditions

  • Geographic location—residents of the Southeast United States have an increased risk

  • Limited physical activity

  • Foreign material in the urinary tract, such as a catheter

Symptoms

Occasionally, kidney stones do not cause symptoms, and they leave the body in the urine. Often a kidney stone can cause symptoms such as:

  • Sudden, severe pain in the side of the body or mid- or lower back during movement

  • Pain in the belly or groin area

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Blood in the urine

  • Burning pain when urinating

  • Fever

  • Recurring urinary tract infections

Diagnosis

You will be asked about your child’s symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done.

Images of the kidneys and urinary tract may be taken with:

  • Ultrasound

  • KUB (kidney, ureter, bladder) x-rays

  • Spiral CT scan

  • Rarely, IV pyelogram (IVP)

A 24-hour urine test may also be done to look for levels of minerals in the urine including calcium , phosphorus , uric acid, oxalate, and citrate.

Kidney Infection

Kidney infections may occur in one or both kidneys. The kidneys remove waste from the body through urine. They also balance the water and mineral content in the blood. An infection can cause pain and swelling which may stop the kidneys from working as needed.

Normal Anatomy of the KidneyCopyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Causes

Kidney infections are caused by a bacteria. The bacteria often enters the lower part of the urinary tract first. It can then grow and cause a UTI. If the UTI is left untreated it can spread up into the kidneys. Most UTIs are caused by a bacteria that normally live in the colon or vagina. It gets passed to the opening of the urinary tract during everyday activities.

Problems with the shape of the urinary tract may also slow or block the flow of urine. This may make it easier for infections to develop.

Risk Factors

Women have a higher risk of kidney infection than men. Factors that may increase your chance of a kidney infection include:

  • Being sexually active

  • Use of spermicide

  • New sexual partner

  • Bladder infection

Some conditions may increase the chance of a kidney infection include:

  • Diabetes

  • Weak immune system

  • Pregnancy

  • Menopause

  • Bladder catheter in place or recently used

  • Neurogenic bladder

  • Renal insufficiency

  • Kidney stones

  • Problems in the urinary tract that slow the flow of urine, such as vesicoureteral reflux or polycystic kidneys

  • History of kidney transplant

  • Tumor

Symptoms

Symptoms of kidney infection may include:

  • Pain in the abdomen, lower back, side, or groin

  • Frequent urination

  • Urgent urination that produces only a small amount of urine

  • Sensation of a full bladder—even after urination

  • Burning pain with urination

  • Fever and chills

  • Nausea and vomiting

  • Pus and blood in the urine

  • Loss of appetite

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will also be done. A sample of your urine will be studied for blood and pus. Sometimes the urine will be tested to look for the exact type of bacteria.

A UTI may be suspected based on the symptoms alone. It may not be important to know exactly where the infection is. Images of the kidney may be needed for severe symptoms. Options include:

  • Kidney ultrasound

  • Abdominal CT scan

  • X-ray

  • MRI scan

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

RESOURCES

National Kidney Foundation https://www.kidney.org 

Urology Care Foundation http://www.urologyhealth.org