The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs that are roughly four inches in
length. They are found towards the back of the abdomen on either side of the
spine. The kidneys remove waste products from the blood. The
clean blood is then transferred back into the body and the waste products are
passed out of the body as urine.
Kidney
stones
“Kidney stones are stone-like lumps that can develop in one or both of
the kidneys”.
The medical name for stones in the kidneys is nephrolithiasis. If the
stones cause severe pain, this is known as renal colic.
Symptoms of kidney stones
“If you have a kidney stone that is very small, it is unlikely to cause
many symptoms. It may even go undetected and pass out painlessly when you
urinate”.
Symptoms usually occur if the kidney stone:
·
Gets stuck in your kidney
·
Starts to travel down the ureter
(the tube that attaches each kidney to the bladder) – the ureter is
narrow, and the kidney stone causes pain as it tries to pass through
·
Causes an infection
In these
cases, common symptoms of kidney stones include:
·
Persistent ache in the lower
back, which is sometimes also felt in the groin – men may have pain
in the testicles and scrotum
·
Periods of intense pain in the back
or side of your abdomen, or occasionally in your groin, which may last for
minutes or hours
·
Feeling restless and unable to lie
still
·
Nausea (feeling sick)
·
Needing to urinate more often than
normal
·
Pain when you urinate
Blocked ureter and kidney infection
If a kidney stone causes a blocked ureter, this can lead to a
kidney infection. This is because waste products cannot pass, which may cause a
build-up of bacteria.
Symptoms of a kidney infection are similar to symptoms
of kidney stones, but may also include:
·
A high temperature (fever) of 38°C (100.4°F) or
over
·
Shivering
·
Chills
·
Feeling very weak or tired
·
Cloudy and bad-smelling urine
Read more information about kidney infections.
Types of kidney stones
There are four main types of kidney stones:
·
Calcium stones
·
Struvite stones –
contain magnesium and ammonia; often horn-shaped and quite large
·
Uric acid stones –
usually smooth, brown and softer than other forms of kidney stones
·
Cystine stones –
often yellow and resemble crystals rather than stones
Kidney stones come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours. Some
resemble grains of sand, while in rare cases others can grow to the size of a
golf ball.
Causes of kidney infection
“A kidney infection happens when bacteria infects your kidneys. The
bacteria are usually a type called E. coli, which live in your
bowel”.
The bacteria get in through the opening of the urethra and
move upwards through your urinary tract, first infecting your bladder and then
your kidneys.
It's thought the bacteria can get into your urinary tract
by accidentally spreading from your anus to your urethra. This can happen
if you wipe your bottom after going to the toilet and the soiled toilet paper
comes into contact with your genitals. It can also happen during sex.
In rare cases, a kidney infection can develop if bacteria or fungi
infect the skin and the infection spreads through your bloodstream into your
kidney. However, this type of infection usually only occurs in people with
weakened immune systems.
Who's most likely to get a kidney infection?
Women and children are most at risk of developing a kidney infection, as
well as other urinary tract infections (UTIs) such as cystitis.
In women, the urethra is closer to the anus than in men, making it
easier for bacteria from the anus to enter the urethra accidentally. The
female urethra is also much shorter than the male urethra (which runs through
the penis). This makes it easier for bacteria to reach the bladder and move
into the kidneys.
Other factors can also put you more at risk of developing a kidney
infection, including:
·
Having a condition that blocks, or
obstructs, your urinary tract, such as kidney stones or an enlarged prostate – children with constipation can also be at an increased risk
·
Being born with an abnormality in
your urinary tract
·
Having a condition that prevents
you emptying your bladder fully, such as an injury to your spinal cord –
this can allow bacteria in your bladder to multiply and spread
·
Having a weakened immune system –
for example, due to type 2 diabetes or as a side effect of chemotherap
·
Having an infection of the prostate
gland called prostatitis – the infection can
spread from the prostate gland into the kidneys
·
Being female and sexually
active – sexual intercourse can irritate the urethra and allow bacteria to
travel into your bladder
·
Being a man who has anal sex –
bacteria can travel up the urethra into the bladder
·
Being pregnant – this can
cause physical changes that slow the flow of urine out of your body and make it
easier for bacteria to spread to the kidneys
How common are kidney stones?
Kidney stones are quite common and usually affect people aged 30 to 60
years. They affect men more than women.
It is estimated that renal colic affects about 10-20% of men and 3-5% of
women.
Photo Credit: Google
Words Credit: NHS Choices
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Kidney-infection/Pages/Introduction.aspx
