Overview
Kidney stones are solid pieces of material that form in the kidneys when certain substances in urine become too concentrated. Stones can be as small as a grain of sand or much larger. Some stay in the kidney without causing symptoms, while others move into the urinary tract and cause pain or blockage.
Key Symptoms
A kidney stone may cause sudden, severe pain in the side, back, lower abdomen, or groin. Other symptoms can include blood in the urine, pain or burning when urinating, nausea, vomiting, and feeling an urgent need to urinate. Small stones may cause only mild symptoms, and some cause none until they move.
Causes and Risk Factors
Kidney stones can form for different reasons, including low fluid intake, certain dietary patterns, family history, and some medical conditions. Risk may be higher in people who have had stones before, lose a lot of body fluid through sweating or illness, or have conditions that affect how the body handles minerals. Some medicines and urinary tract abnormalities can also raise risk.
Who Is Affected
Kidney stones can affect adults of many ages and can also occur in children. Risk may be higher in people living in hot climates, those with a family history of stones, and people with repeated dehydration. Anyone who has had one stone has a higher chance of developing another in the future.
Prevention
Prevention often focuses on lowering the chance that crystals will form in urine. Drinking enough fluids is an important step for many people, especially in hot weather or during heavy physical activity. Depending on the stone type and a person's health history, a healthcare professional may suggest other prevention steps after evaluation.
Diagnosis and Tests
Healthcare professionals may ask about symptoms, past stones, family history, diet, and fluid intake. Tests can include urine tests, blood tests, and imaging such as ultrasound or CT scans to look for a stone and see whether urine flow is blocked. If a stone is passed or removed, it may be analyzed to help guide prevention.
Treatment Categories
Treatment depends on the stone's size, location, symptoms, and whether there is infection or blockage. Some small stones pass on their own with monitoring and supportive care, while larger stones or those causing problems may need procedures to break them up or remove them. A blocked urinary tract with signs of infection can require urgent treatment.
Diet and Lifestyle
Diet and daily habits can matter, but the right advice depends on the type of stone. Staying well hydrated is commonly recommended, and some people may be advised to adjust salt intake or other parts of their diet after testing. It is important not to make major dietary changes based only on guesswork, because different stones have different triggers.
When to Seek Medical Care
Seek medical care if you have symptoms of a kidney stone, especially if pain is strong, keeps coming back, or makes it hard to drink fluids. You should also get medical advice if you notice blood in the urine, have trouble urinating, or think you may have passed a stone. Follow-up is important because stones can come back and some need testing to prevent future episodes.
When It May Be an Emergency
Get urgent medical help right away if you have fever, chills, or feel very unwell along with symptoms of a kidney stone, because this can signal an infection with blockage. Emergency care is also needed for unbearable pain, repeated vomiting, inability to pass urine, fainting, or symptoms of dehydration. These problems can become serious quickly.