| Calcium stones | | | | difficult to remove by ESWL method then |
| This is the major type of stone found in 50% of the | | | | percutaneous nephrolithotomy can be used. In some |
| people who suffer from kidney stone disorder. | | | | rare cases ESWL is used after percutaneous |
| Kidney stones normally found in persons who are | | | | nephrolithotomy to remove smaller pieces of stones. |
| taking excessive calcium particularly in pill form. People | | | | For larger stones, open surgery is required. |
| who are suffering from recurrent stone formation in | | | | After removing the stones, follow up is required at |
| kidney are more likely affected calcium oxalate | | | | regular intervals to confirm new stones have not |
| stones. | | | | been formed. |
| Calcium and vitamins in pill form tend to aggravate | | | | How to prevent Struvite stones? |
| kidney stone formation. | | | | Struvite stone formation can be prevented by |
| We all know that vitamin D is essential in absorbing | | | | restricting or treating urinary tract infection. Once you |
| calcium. This is good for bones. But excessive | | | | have struvite stones, then you should completely |
| absorption of vitamin D will only harm your health by | | | | remove the stones in any of the above methods. |
| producing Calcium stones. | | | | This is important because struvite stones will also |
| If you are diagnosed with these types of stones, | | | | cause calcium stone formation and then in turn may |
| then you should limit the consumption of dairy | | | | lead to kidney failure. |
| products, meat and poultry. Instead start taking low | | | | Cystine stones |
| calcium high fiber diet. | | | | Cystine stones are not common since their formation |
| Allopurinal is proven to be the most effective drug | | | | highly relates to a rare disease called Cystinuria. This |
| for calcium stone sufferers. However if the drug | | | | problem occurs mainly in children and young adults. |
| shows any side effects in any of the patients, then | | | | Children having family history of this stone are more |
| he/ she should stop consuming the medications. | | | | likely to be affected by this disease. |
| Uric Acid Stones | | | | Causes for Cystine stone formation |
| Uric acid stones are another common type found in | | | | It is a normal fact that amino acids are filtered in the |
| kidney stone sufferers. This will occur when the urine | | | | urine. However, a normal kidney can reabsorb them |
| has a high concentration of uric acid or the uric acid is | | | | from urine and transfer them in the blood. In |
| present in such a form which is easily dissolvable in | | | | cystinuria, the kidneys fail to reabsorb from the urine |
| water. | | | | the cystine amino acids. Therefore, cystine will be |
| People having high risk of uric acid stones | | | | dissolved in the urine so as to form crystals. This in |
| People who receive Chemotherapy treatment for | | | | turn will result in the growth of stones. |
| curing cancer have more concentration of uric acid in | | | | How to diagnose this stone? |
| urine than normal people. | | | | Unlike other stones, the Cystine stone will induce |
| People who live in hot and arid areas and one who do | | | | continuous pain. Children affected by this disease will |
| not consume atleast eight to ten glasses of water | | | | complain about severe pain. This is a clear symptom |
| may have the chance of frequent dehydration. They | | | | of this stone. X-ray will identify the stone but not |
| will lead to low volume of urine output and thereby | | | | that much clear as calcium stone. However, IVP or |
| increase the risk of uric acid stones. | | | | CT scan will clearly diagnose the stone. |
| People who have inflammatory bowel disorders or | | | | An x-ray is enough to diagnose small stones. |
| those who have the problem of chronic diarrhea | | | | Treatment for Cystine stones |
| have the problem of low pH urine and low volume of | | | | Treatment for cystine stones is essential like other |
| urine. This in turn will increase the stone formation. | | | | stones since it may cause not only pain but also urine |
| Symptoms of Uric acid stones | | | | infections and sometimes kidney failure. Traditional |
| The person suffering from uric acid stones will | | | | treatment involves taking adequate fluids. Taking 3 |
| experience extreme pain and will also notice blood in | | | | liters extra water will help in dissolving the cystine |
| urine like any other types of kidney stones [ Hence a | | | | stones. Sodium intake must be reduced. Usually |
| complete diagnosis will only help in recognizing the | | | | cystine stone is the result of high pH level in urine. |
| type of kidney stone. Normally uric acid stones will | | | | The pH level must be reduced to pass the stone. |
| not be seen in X-ray. A CT scan and 24 hours urine | | | | Taking plenty of water will be more beneficial. Of |
| test is necessary to identify the stone. | | | | course it is the cheapest form of medicine. |
| Treatment for uric acid stones | | | | Medication |
| Uric acid stones though cause severe pain are not | | | | Sometimes the above traditional methods may not |
| difficult to remove. Drinking adequate fluid along with | | | | be effective. Therefore people may require |
| increase in urine pH level is sufficient to pass uric acid | | | | medication to remove the stone or stones. Drugs |
| stones. Normally shock wave treatments are not | | | | available for this disorder are penicillamine, tiopronin |
| required for removing this type of stone. | | | | and captopril. Pencillamine is available everywhere but |
| How to prevent uric acid stones | | | | it may cause few side effects. Tiopronin is the best |
| Taking more than 2 liters of water daily will help in | | | | drug available all over the world and it is proven to be |
| preventing uric acid stones. Fresh fruits will help in | | | | effective in removing the stones. Captopril will cause |
| raising the urine pH level by supplying potassium | | | | fewer side effects than the other two but it is not |
| bicarbonate or potassium citrate to the body. | | | | that much effective. |
| If you do not get effective results in removing | | | | If the above medication does not provide any |
| stones by the above simplest approach, then your | | | | positive results then the doctor can suggest some |
| doctor will advice you to take allopurinol drugs. | | | | other procedures. But in fact the shock waves do |
| Struvite stones | | | | not provide successful results particularly if the stone |
| Struvite stones are also described as infection stones | | | | is large. The large stones are first broken down into |
| since they occur mainly due to urinary tract | | | | smaller pieces and then pencilamine is injected directly |
| infections. These stones will grow fast and will | | | | into the kidney. This will help in dissolving the small |
| occupy large parts of the kidney. Even though lots of | | | | pieces of stones. |
| antibiotics are available nowadays, this infection stone | | | | Cystine stone is one of the most complicated |
| is prevalent in some 15 to 20 % of kidney stone | | | | problems and so traditional treatment should be |
| sufferers. | | | | continued up to 1 or 2 years and the medication |
| The bacteria that are producing urinary tract | | | | must be continued for six months after treatment. |
| infections and thereby struvite stones are proteus | | | | This is important because the possibility of getting |
| and klebsiella. Any conditions that cause urinary tract | | | | stones again is higher here. People suffering from |
| infection with bacteria have the ability to produce | | | | multiple stones are at higher risk as it may lead to |
| ammonia which will be a key factor in struvite stone | | | | kidney failure and then there is no other option left |
| formation. Since bladder may have some urine | | | | other than undergoing a kidney transplant which is |
| stagnant, the possibility of bacteria growing is more. | | | | the last possible way to cure the disease. |
| Symptoms of struvite stone | | | | Drug stone |
| Struvite stone does not really show any symptoms | | | | People who are under medication for any ailment are |
| like other stones. Mild pain and blood in urine may be | | | | also under risk of kidney stones as the drugs taken |
| seen. However these symptoms can be normally | | | | to cure that disease may form crystals and then |
| associated with urinary tract infection only. Recurrent | | | | such crystals can grow as stones. |
| infection may be a symptom of struvite stone. | | | | People taking treatment for HIV infection with the |
| How to diagnose the Struvite stones? | | | | drug called protease inhibitor indinavir and triamterene |
| If you have recurrent urinary tract infection then you | | | | are also considered at having a risk of drug stone |
| should go for x-ray or CTscan. This will clearly help in | | | | formation. |
| identifying the type of stone. Urine test that shows | | | | Although we have divided the kidney stones into 5 |
| high pH level more than 7 will also state the | | | | types, some kidney stones will be formed by |
| formation of struvite stone. A microscopic test that | | | | combining one or two types. One type of stone |
| shows crystals in urine will also indicate Struvite | | | | formation will tend to form another type also. |
| stones. | | | | Shapes of kidney stones |
| What are the risks involved with this stone? | | | | The size and shape of the kidney stone normally |
| As already told, this stone will grows at a very fast | | | | varies from person to person. However it will not |
| pace and can cause infections frequently. Sometimes | | | | look like a smooth, round ball. The shape will be |
| it may also cause acute kidney failure. Normally | | | | irregular. The size may vary from millimeters to few |
| frequent infection will cause chronic kidney failure. | | | | centimeters. The color, texture etc will also vary |
| What are the treatments available to treat Struvite | | | | from person to person. |
| stones? | | | | The most common colors of kidney stones are |
| The complication of this stone makes it indispensable | | | | yellow and brown. But gold, tan and black may also |
| to take treatment as early as possible. Medication will | | | | be the colors of the kidney stones. The normal shape |
| not be successful for more people in removing this | | | | of a kidney stone may be round, jagged or branch |
| stone. Extra corporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) | | | | like. The texture may also differ according to the |
| is useful in removing small stones. If the stone is | | | | composition of the stone. |