symptom of kidney stones : Kidney Stones 2

Kidney stones are small compounds found inside the kidneys or ureters. Small kidney stones leave the body through urine but if they grow in size, they can cause acute pain in the lower abdomen and groin. The size of a kidney stone can be as small as a grain or as large as a golf ball. Kidney stones are also known as nephrolithiases.

The most common type of kidney stone is calcium oxalate. It is formed due to excessive intake of calcium. This, however, does not mean that a low-calcium diet is a guarantee against kidney stones in the body.

There are several other types of kidney stones, such as calcium phosphate, cystine, struvite, etc. Kidney stones are generally asymptomatic. One often comes to know about their presence in the body in wake of urine disorders. Some of the common symptoms that indicate the presence of kidney stones in a human body include acute renal colic (it is one of the most severe pains that a patient can suffer), restlessness, vomiting, nausea and fever caused by an infection. Sometime patients come to know about them only when their urine turns red due to presence of blood.

With the help of technology it is not difficult to diagnose and treat this problem. A few basic tests, which include culture of a urine sample and blood tests, are conducted. As far as treatment is concerned, smaller kidney stones are made to pass through urine. If their size is bigger, then the patient may have to undergo invasive or non-invasive surgery to remove kidney stones.

As a preventive measure, one should avoid diets rich in proteins, sodium and nitrogen, and drink lot of water. But even after all the precautions, they have a tendency to reappear in a patient's body.

By Seth Miller