Kidney Stones

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

·      Blood in your urine – this may be caused by the stone scratching the kidney or ureter

 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

·      Diarrhoea

·      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

·      Having a urinary catheter (a thin, flexible tube inserted into your bladder to drain away urine)

·      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