Nephrolithiasis

What is Nephrolithiasis ?
The process of forming a kidney stone, a stone in the kidney (or lower down in the urinary tract).

Causes of Nephrolitiasis
Kidney stones form when small crystals mass together. These crystals can be made up of a number of different substances. The most common cause of kidney stones is the presence of too much calcium in the urine. High calcium levels can be caused by a kidney defect; a diet high in a chemical called oxalate (found in poultry, meat, and fish); diseases such as renal tubular acidosis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), some types of cancers; and certain thyroid disorders.

Kidney stones can also be made of uric acid, which builds up when people become severely dehydrated.

Symptoms of Nephrolitiasis
Very small kidney stones may pass out of the body in the urine without causing symptoms. Larger stones may become trapped in the narrow ureter, causing severe pain in the back or side, nausea and vomiting, or blood in the urine. If there is blood in your urine, it will look pink or red. If the location of pain shifts downward, closer to the groin, this usually indicates that the stone has traveled downward in the ureter and is now closer to the bladder. As the stone approaches the bladder, there may be an increased urge to urinate or a burning sensation during urination. When stones pass out of your body in your urine, you may see the stones exit.

Diagnosis of Nephrolitiasis
The treatment of kidney stones depends upon their size and the symptoms they cause. Some patients are able to pass the stones on their own by drinking plenty of fluids. Your doctor will order medication to relieve the pain, and antibiotics if there are signs of infection. If tests indicate the kidney stone will be passed, you will be told to strain your urine through a medical sieve so the stone can be collected and studied in a laboratory.


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