Half of all people affected by kidney stones will develop further stones within seven years. Kidney stones occur more frequently in young to middle-aged men. People living in a hot climate have a higher chance of developing kidney stones if they don’t drink enough fluid to replace that lost through sweating. Some individuals may inherit a predisposition towards the condition.

HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?

Your doctor may suspect kidney stones after taking your medical history. Then you may be referred for further investigations, including a plain X-ray and/or intravenous orography, to sdentifs’ the presence and location of stones. Some kidney stones are made from calcium salts and show up well oil images. Other stones, made from oxalatc, phosphate or uric acid, can be more difficult to see. More tests may he done on urine to cheek for secondary infection, any presence of blood in the urine and to measure kidney function.

TREATING KIDNEY STONES

Treatment for the condition depends on the size of the stone.

• Small stones may pass with rest, plenty of fluids and some appropriate pain relief. Occasionally smaller stones may become lodged in the ureter, and these can he removed during examination with an instrument called a cystoscope.
• Larger stones call more problems. They may not pass spontaneously and are more likely to become lodged in the kidney. These stones are usually treated through a process known as lithotrupsy. This method uses high-energy shock waves to break the stones down into a powder, which can then be expelled in the urine.
• In some cases, stones have to be removed surgically, although this is rare and generally only used as a last resort.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Small stones may cause no symptoms whatsoever. However, larger stones are usually very painful because they cause the ureter to go into acute spasm. This is known as renal colic and the symptoms of renal colic are:

1. Intense pain that radiates from the back (usually on one side) to the groin. Sometimes it can be felt in the genitals as well.
2. Frequent, painful urination.
3. Blood in the urine.
4. Nausea and vomiting.

Renal colic subsides as soon as the offending stone is passed. An episode of renal colic may be an isolated incident. but some people are more prone to the condition and they may experience repeated attacks of kidney stones and renal colic.

PREVENTING KIDNEY STONES

• Drink plenty of fluids, approximately 2-3 litres (3Ii.-5 pints) a day.
• Increase your fluid intake during hot weather and after exercise.
• Avoid too much rhubarb, spinach and asparagus, as these promote the formation of oxalate stones.
• Check with your doctor in case you should limit your intake of calcium- rich substances, such as dairy products or calcium-based antacids.
• People who are prone to kidney stones may be advised to avoid, or reduce their consumption, of dairy products such as buffer and cheese.