Kidney Stone (Nephrolithiasis): Symptoms, Causes, Prevention, Type, diagnosis and Treatment

INTRODUCTION

Kidney stones (also referred to as nephrolithiasis or urolithiasis) are hard accumulation that is made up of various minerals and salts that form the various type of kidney stones. Food, additional bodyweight, some medical situations, and convinced supplements and medications are among the many reasons for kidney stones.

Nephrolithiasis is a kidney ailment with a global occurrence rate of 4 to 20 % and an increasing rate of recurrence of stone formation. Stones are characterized by their crystalline constituent and based on stone constituent i.e. calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate or a mixture of both. Calcium oxalate crystals are the main (approximately 75% of total cases) type of kidney stone. Kidney stone formation or nephrolithiasis is a composite procedure that depends upon the urinary supersaturation concerning the crystallizing salts. The calcific stone formation is related to disorders such as tubular acidosis, hyperuricosuria and hypercitraturia. These disorders eventually result in the excretion of oxalate, calcium, citrate, and uric acid which impact urinary supersaturation concerning calcium oxalate.

The composition of kidney stones depends on variances in the urinary configuration of numerous chemicals. The size, shape and chemical characterizations of the stones. Depending on various chemical and mineral compositions and pathogenesis of the stones, it is generally categorized into five types i.e. Calcium stone crystals (calcium oxalate (CaOX) & calcium phosphate (Ca₃(PO₄)₂)), magnesium ammonium phosphate stones, Uric acid stones, Cysteine stones and Drug-induced stones.

The prevalence and reoccurrence of kidney stone disease are increasing day by day, without effective treatment methods and drugs. Nephrolithiasis is disturbing about 12% of the world population. The probable frequency is about 600000 in America.

TYPES OF KIDNEY STONES

Generally, there are four different types of nephrolithiasis i.e.

1.      Calcium oxalate stones: This is the very usual type of kidney stone that is produced when calcium is allied with oxalate in the urine. Inadequate calcium and fluid consumption, as well other situations, may contribute to stone formation.

2.      Uric acid stones: This is the one more common category of kidney stones. Various foods like animal protein and crayfish have high conc. of a natural chemical entity known as purines. Intake of a high quantity of purine causes a higher production of monosodium urate, which may formulate uric acid kidney stones. The formation of these kinds of stones inclines to run in families.

3.      Struvite stone: These stones are less common and are caused by upper urinary tract infections (UTIs).

4.      Cystine stone: These stones are very occasional and inclined to run in families.

SYMPTOMS

If you are suffering from a very small kidney stone that passes easily through the urinary tract, without showing any symptoms, and may never recognize that you had a kidney stone.

In case of a larger kidney stone, you may sign any of the following symptoms:

·         Pain while urinating

·         Blood in your urine

·         Severe pain in your back or lower belly

·         Nausea and vomiting

·         For men, you may sense pain at the tip of the penis.

CAUSES

·         Suffered from earlier kidney stones disease.

·         Someone in your relatives has had kidney stones.

·         Less water consumption.

·         Take a diet that comprises a high concentration of protein & sodium.

·         Obese or weighty condition of the body.

·         You have had gastric bypass surgery.

·         Polycystic kidney disease.

·         Constant low urine volume

·         Some medications, and calcium and vitamin C supplements, may increase your risk of forming stones.

·         The possibility of developing kidney stones is extremely higher if you have a family history of kidney stones.

Also read: Acute Kidney Injury Symptoms Causes Prevention Risk factors diagnosis and Treatment

DIAGNOSIS

Kidney stones can be diagnosed by various lab tests and imaging tests.

Imaging tests:

1.      Abdominal X-ray: An abdominal x-ray is an image of the stomach that uses low levels of emission and is recorded on a computer system. An x-ray specialist captures an abdominal x-ray at a hospital or diagnostic centre, and a radiologist analyses the images. Abdominal x-rays can indicate the location of kidney stones in the urinary tract & kidneys. Not all stones are recognizable on abdominal x-ray.

2.      Computed tomography (CT) scans: CT scans use a combination of both technology i.e. x-rays and computers, to produce images of the whole urinary system. CT scans can denote the size and location of a kidney stone if the stone is hindering the urinary tract and conditions that may have triggered the kidney stone formation.

Lab tests

1.      Blood test: A blood test discloses the functioning of the kidneys, infections and other biochemical complications that may cause kidney stones.

2.      Urinalysis: This test also expresses the signs of infection and observes the levels of the kidney stone-forming elements. Urinalysis can demonstrate whether the urine has blood in it and minerals that can make kidney stones. White blood cells (WBS) and bacteria in the urine mean you may have an infection in your urinary tract (UTI).

TREATMENT

Treatment of kidney stones depends on the type of stone. There is various type of treatments to choose from but it is very important to talk to your health care provider about what treatment is good for you.

Stone can pass itself

A small type of kidney stone may pass through your urinary system deprived of any treatment. Regularly you can just wait for the stone to pass itself. Smaller size stones are more probable than larger stones to pass themselves. Waiting Up to four to six weeks for the stone to clear is safe if the pain is tolerable and there are no marks of infection and the kidney is not jammed. When you are waiting for the stone to pass itself, you should drink good amounts of water regularly. You may require a pain pill if there is any type of embarrassment. Certain medicines have been revealed to increase the chance that a stone will pass. The most common medicine approved for kidney stones is Tamsulosin. Tamsulosin causes the relaxation of the ureter and causes the easy passage of the stone from the body.

Surgery

Surgery may be needed to eradicate a stone from the ureter or kidney if:

·         The stones are unable to pass themselves from the body.

·         The pain is excessively severe and you cannot wait for the stone to pass itself.

·         The stone is troubling your kidney function. Small size stones in the kidney may be left isolated if they are not making pain or infection.

MEDICATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF KIDNEY STONES CONCERNING THEIR TYPE

1.      Calcium oxalate stones: Potassium citrate, that is used to upsurge the citrate concentrations and pH levels in urine and diuretics, commonly known as water tablets, that support clearing the water of your body.

2.      Uric Acid Stones: For this type of stone, Allopurinol is a key medicine, that is used to treat high concentrations of uric acid in the body and another drug is Potassium citrate.

3.      Struvite Stones: Various antibiotics are used for this type of stone. Antibiotics are bacteria-fighting medicines and acetohydroxamic acid is also used with another long-term antibiotic pill to stop illness.

4.      Cystine Stones: Mercaptopropionyl glycine is an antioxidant that is used for cardiac complications, also used for stone treatment and potassium citrate is also used.

AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF KIDNEY STONE

·         Drink Kulthi pulse (horse-gram) water

Put 20 grams of Kulthi dal in 250 grams of water and keep it covered at night. Mix this water well in the morning and drink it on a void stomach. A person who has had stones once is at risk of getting them again. Therefore, even after the removal of stones, the patient should continue to consume Kulthi occasionally. Kulthi is like a medicine in stones. Also, drink 7 to 8 glasses of plain water daily. The patient of stone should not eat urad dal, nuts, chocolate, non-vegetarian, tea, brinjal, tomato and rice.

·         Patharchatta leaves

If you are suffering from stones, then Patharchatta is a good remedy for your health. For this, you have to eat Patharchatta leaves with warm water. By following this on daily basis, you will feel relief from the difficulty of kidney stones. For best results, eat two Patharchatta leaves on an empty stomach in the morning.

·         Apple Cider Vinegar

It comprises acetic acid and important nutrients such as Vit B and Vit C. The citric acid in apple cider vinegar supports dissolving kidney stones. Systematic eating of this usual remedy will help in blushing out the kidney impurities.

·         Ayurvedic herbs and medicines

Ayurvedic treatment of kidney stones comprises a range of treatments that include plant-based medication, diet and routine changes. In the Ayurvedic system, numerous diuretic herbs have been selected to help in the breakdown of kidney stones so they are effortlessly ejected in the urine. In ayurvedic manuscripts chiefly three types of drugs Mutravirechaniya (diuretic) Ashmarighna Dravya (lithotriptic) and Kshara Karma (alkali remedy) are specified for kidney stones management. Some important ayurvedic herbs for kidney stones are: Punarnava (Boerhaavia Diffusa), Varuna (Crataeva nurvala), Shigru (Moringa Oleifera), Pashanabheda (Bergenia ligulata), Kushmanda seeds (Benincasa hispida Cong.), Kantkari (Solanum xanthocarpum), Bakul (Mimusops Elengi), Jasmine (Jasminum auriculatum), Coriander (Coriandrum Sativum L.)

·         Some of the best ayurvedic medicines for kidney stones (Available in the market)

Here is some important and highly effective ayurvedic medicine for the cure of kidney stones. Apart from these medicines, many other medicines are also available.

1.      Cystone tablet manufactured by Himalaya.

2.      Stondab Syrup is manufactured by Dabur.

3.      Pathreena tablet & Syrup manufactured by Baidyanath.

4.      Lithom manufactured by Patanjali.

5.      Neeri KFT syrup manufactured by Aimil Pharma.

6.      NuraStone is manufactured by Nuralz. 

Also read: Acute Kidney Injury Symptoms Causes Prevention Risk factors diagnosis and Treatment