Disease bkidney stones or nephrolithiasis is the formation of rock-like hard material derived from minerals and salts in the kidney. Kidney stones can occur along the urinary tract, from the kidneys, ureters (urinary tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder), bladder, and urethra (urinary tubes that carry urine out of the body).
Kidney stones form from waste in the blood that forms crystals and builds up in the kidneys. Examples of chemicals that can form kidney stones are calcium and oxalic acid. Over time, the material gets harder and resembles the shape of a rock.
Causes of Kidney Stones
Kidney stones can be triggered by various conditions, such as not drinking enough water, being overweight, or due to side effects of surgery on the digestive organs. Stone deposits in the kidneys can be caused by food or other underlying health problems. Based on the type, kidney stones are divided into four, namely calcium stones, uric acid stones, struvite stones, and cystine stones.
Kidney stones can move and are not always in the kidney. Transferring kidney stones, especially large ones, will have difficulty going to the small and smooth ureter to the bladder, and then expelled through the urethra. This condition can cause urinary tract irritation. Kidney stones that are diagnosed and treated early, do not cause permanent damage to kidney function.
Most cases of kidney stone disease are experienced by people aged 30-60 years. It is estimated that 10 percent of women and 15 percent of men will experience this condition during their lifetime.
Symptoms of Kidney Stones
Symptoms of kidney stones often only appear when the kidney stones are large. Those symptoms include:
- Frequent urination.
- Pain when urinating.
- The amount of urine that comes out is small or urine does not come out at all.
Kidney Stone Treatment
Treatment of kidney stones or urinary stones will be adjusted to the patient's condition. Treatment can be done in several ways, including:
- Administration of drugs.
- Procedure to break up kidney stones (ureteroscopy).
- Open surgery.
- Other procedures, such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) or percutaneous nephrolithotomy.
To prevent this disease, drink plenty of water and ask your doctor for advice on the right diet.
Complications of Kidney Stones
Treatment for kidney stones themselves, especially large kidney stones, carries a risk of complications, including:
- Injury to the ureter.
- Bleeding in the body.
- Infection that spreads throughout the body through blood or bacteremia.
- Swelling of the kidneys or hydronephrosis.