You Ask , They Answer
Q
: Kidney stones are often confused as UTI for the misinformed . What are the major differences ?
A
: UTI is a bacterial infection of the bladder , while kidney stones can harbour bacteria and causes serious infection . These bacteria are the ones that create stones in the kidney due to dietary habits and insufficient water intake .
Calcium stones present are due to high intake of salt , oxalate diet and excessive amount of protein .
Q
: What kind of procedures would a urologist recommend for patients with kidney stones ?
A
: You will need a procedure to break up or remove the stone if it can ’ t pass on its own or is causing a blockage . Smaller stones can pass through your urinary tract in your pee with no symptoms . Large kidney stones can get trapped in your ureter ( the tube that drains urine from your kidney down to your bladder ). This can cause pee to back up and limit your kidney ’ s ability to filter waste from your body . It can also cause bleeding .
A urologist will run a few tests and imaging to get the right diagnosis and when it ’ s detected , based on the severity of the infection , the right procedures will be presented ; either to break up the stones via open surgery ( laparoscopic surgery ) or other moden shockwave lithotripsy .
Q
: Can kidney stones dissapear on their own and will it reappear ?
A
: Yes , around 80 % of kidney stones can pass on their own . The amount of time it takes for you to pass a kidney stone
depends on its size and location
And yes , it can reappear . If you ’ ve had kidney stones , you ’ re likely to get more in the future . You ’ ll likely need to work on preventing them with changes to the foods you eat and , sometimes , medication .
Q
: What other factors should I be aware of as a sign of kidney stones cancer ?
A
: Firstly , obesity . You ’ re twice more likely to get a kidney stones if you ’ re obese . Again , this comes back to issues of bad lifestyle habits . Secondly , gut issues . Stones are the most common kidney problem in people with inflammatory bowel disease like Crohn ’ s disease and ulcerative colitis . Bowel problems can give you diarrhea , so you make less pee . Your body may absorb extra oxalate from the intestine , so more gets in your pee .
Thirdly and certainly not the last , accompanying medical conditions ; gout , diabetes , metabolic syndrome among others .
Q
: Is kidney stones deadly ?
A
: No , kidney stones doesn ’ t cause death . Kidney stones shouldn ’ t stop you from going about your daily activities , or drastically reduce your quality of life . Thanks to passing them while you urinate , and thanks to treatment options , kidney stones aren ’ t permanent .
Dr Colin Teo
Senior Consulting Urologist
8 ISSUE 5 | 2024 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com