Nephrolithiasis

Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones)
Kidney stones are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside the kidneys. There are many causes of kidney stones and this can affect any part of the urinary tract (from the kidneys to the bladder). Kidney stones often forms when the urine becomes concentrated, allowing minerals to crystallize and stick together. Passing kidney stones can be painful but the stones usually can cause no permanent damage if they are recognized on time.
Depending on an individual's condition, a pain relief medication and lots of water intake to pass the stone may just be enough, but in other instance the stone may become lodged in the urinary tract, it becomes associated with urinary tract infection or cause complications which may involve surgery.

Causes of nephrolithiasis
Kidney stones have no definitive, single cause, although several factors may increase increase the risk. Kidney stones form when urine contains more crystal forming substances like calcium, oxalate and uric acid than the fluid in urine can dilute. The urine can also lack substances that prevent crystals from sticking together, creating an ideal environment for kidney stones to form.

Types of kidney stones
*calcium stones:kidney stones are mostly calcium stones, they usually form calcium oxalate. Oxalate is a naturally occurring substance found in food and made available daily by the liver. Calcium stones may also occur in the form of calcium phosphate, this type is more common in metabolic conditions like renal tubular acidosis.
*struvite stones: this form in response to an infection like urinary tract infection. They can grow quickly and become quite large sometimes with few or no symptoms .
*uric acid stones:this can form in individuals who do not take enough fluid or loose too much fluid. Those who eat high-protein diet and individuals who have gout.
*cysteine stones:form in individuals with a hereditary disorder that causes the kidneys to excrete too much of amino acids (cystinuria).
Risk factors
Family or personal history, dehydration, certain diets, being obese, digestive diseases and surgery, other medical conditions.
Symptoms:
*severe pain that individual can't sit still or find a comfortable position.
*pain accompanied by nusea and vomiting
*pain accompanied by fever and chills
*haematuria and difficulty in passing urine.

Diagnosis
Blood testing to reveal hypercalcemia or too much uric acid in the blood, urine testing may show many stone-forming minerals or too few stone-preventing substances, imaging may show kidney stones in urinary tract.

Treatment
Regular fluid intake at least 1. 9-2. 8 litres daily
Pain relievers
Medical therapy. By Kelechi Eluwa