Urinary stones can affect any part of the urinary tract, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Causative factors are usually multifactorial. They include diet and hydration habits, metabolic disorders, and recurrent urinary tract infections caused by flow obstruction from prostatic hyperplasia and urine acidity.
Kidney stones generally are asymptomatic even if they are large, so are discovered incidentally during routine checkups. However, it can become symptomatic at times, leading to some mild flank pain.
When the stones shift into the ureter, they may trigger colic symptoms. These are unprovoked, intense, wave-like pains in the side that can radiate to the lower abdomen, groin, or testicles. Other symptoms may include urinary retention or extremely frequent urination, often painful. In such cases, urgent treatment is necessary.
The diagnosis is made from clinical symptoms, particularly pain; urine analysis for blood and stone components; ultrasound examination of the urinary tract; and CT scan. Treatment follows, depending on the size and location of the stones.
