Intense pain in the lower back that does not go away, blood in the urine and fever are some of the symptoms of kidney stones. They can be as fine as a grain of sand or as large as a pea, very rarely as large as a lemon. Dr. Domingo Chang, nephrologist of our clinic, gives us more information on this important topic to take care of the health of our kidneys.

How are kidney stones formed?

Kidney stones, or renal calculi, are formed when there is an imbalance between the substances that form stones (such as calcium, oxalate, phosphorus, uric acid), the substances that prevent them (potassium, citrates) and the amount of liquid that is eliminated in the urine, which is equal to the amount of liquid that the person consumes. Some of these elements depend on the diet (such as liquid, oxalates, potassium) and others are kidney defects, sometimes inherited or familial.

How to prevent kidney stones?

Although prevention measures vary according to the type of stone, there are general recommendations to reduce the risk of developing them. For example:

• Drink 2.5 to 3 liters of water per day.
• Reducing salt and soda consumption
• Increase the intake of fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits.

How are they treated?

The treatment of kidney stones depends on each case and may include an invasive surgical procedure or lithotripsy, which is an extracorporeal technique that demands a millimetric cut. From the medical point of view, very few stones can be dissolved with drugs due to their hardness, and those that are susceptible require a long treatment time to achieve this goal.

Remember:

The most common complications of kidney stones are bleeding through the urine (hematuria) and pain, which can be severe. Other less frequent but potentially serious complaints are urinary tract obstruction and urinary tract infections. The latter, if not treated in time and adequately, can lead to permanent failure of the affected kidney. Visit a nephrologist to rule out any type of condition that could jeopardize the health of your kidneys.

Dr. Domingo Chang
Nephrologist at Clínica Ricardo Palma