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Kidney stones, one of the most common disorders of the urinary tract, affect men more frequently than women. A kidney stone is a solid piece of material that forms in a kidney out of substances in the urine. There are different kinds of kidney stones.

A stone may stay in the kidney or break loose and travel down the urinary tract. A small stone may pass all the way out of the body without causing too much pain. A larger stone may get stuck in a ureter, the bladder, or the urethra. A problem stone can block the flow of urine and cause great pain.

Most kidney stones pass out of the body without help from a doctor. But sometimes a stone will not pass. It may even get larger. You should call a doctor if you have any of the following signs:

• extreme pain in your back or side that will not go away
• blood in your urine
• fever and chills
• vomiting
• urine that smells bad or looks cloudy
• a burning feeling when you urinate

These may be signs of a kidney stone that needs a doctor’s care.

Treatment

If you have a stone that will not pass by itself, your doctor may need to take steps to remove it. In the past, the only way to remove a problem stone was through surgery. Now, doctors have new, non-surgical ways to remove problem stones.

The therapy depends on the type of stone you have. So, if you pass the stone on your own, try to catch it in a strainer and let your doctor know. The best way for the doctor to find out what kind of stone you have is to test the stone itself.

Your doctor may also ask for a urine sample or take blood to find out what caused your stone. You may need to collect your urine for a 24-hour period. These tests will help your doctor find ways for you to avoid stones in the future.

Prevention

If you have already had a kidney stone, you have a greater chance of having more. You are also at greater risk if there is a family history of kidney stones. To help prevent them, It is important to drink more water. Try to drink 12 full glasses of water every day. Drinking lots of water helps to flush away the substances that form stones in the kidneys.

You can also drink ginger ale, lemon-lime sodas, and fruit juices. But water is best. Limit your coffee, tea, and cola to one or two cups a day because the caffeine may cause you to lose fluid too quickly.

Your doctor may ask you to eat more of some foods and to cut back on other foods. The doctor also may give you medicines to prevent some types of stones.

Additional Information on Kidney Stones:

Publications

1.   Kidney Stones in Adults - This publication contains information on kidney stones, causes, who gets them, symptoms, treatments, and prevention methods.

   http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/stonesadults/index.htm

2.   What I need to know about Kidney Stones - This fact sheet explains how kidneys function. It also explains the formation of kidney stones and lists treatment methods.

   http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/stones_ez/index.htm

3. Kidney Stones (Copyright © Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia) - This fact sheet explains what a kidney stone is, the different types of stones, who gets them, how they are diagnosed, treated, and prevented.

   http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/uvahealth/adult_urology/stones.cfm

4. Management of Ureteral Stones - Ureteral stone disease is among the most painful and prevalent of urologic disorders. As many as 5 percent of Americans will be affected by urinary stones at some point in their lives. Fortunately, most stones pass out of the body without any intervention. If you are not so lucky, this publication should help you and your doctor address the causes, symptoms and possible complications created by your ureteral stone disease.

   http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=12&topic=105

Organizations

1.   National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, HHS
2.   National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, NIDDK, NIH, HHS
3. National Kidney Foundation

= Indicates Federal Resources

Current as of June 2007