Litiasis Urinaria

Renal lithiasis is a chronic disease characterized by the formation of stones in the urinary tract, the treatment of which is not based solely on medical or surgical measures.

Most patients have some disorder in the absorption, metabolism or excretion of the components of the stones, of the substances inhibiting stone formation or of the pH of the urine.

Recent studies indicate that 60% of patients who have had a stone will have another stone within 10 years, 35% within 5 years and 15% within 1 year of the first episode.

The clinical presentation of renal lithiasis is variable depending on the size, location and composition of the stones in the urinary tract. Some may have little symptomatology.

• Nephritic colic: very intense pain, which is produced by the obstruction of urine outflow from the kidney, appears in the lumbar area and radiates to the anterior abdomen and genitals. It is an intermittent, disturbing pain, associated with nausea, vomiting and sweating. Fever may occur.
• Hematuria: it is the appearance of blood in the urine. It may or may not be visible to the naked eye. It is produced by the lesions produced by the stone in its passage through the urinary tract.
• Urinary tract infections: kidney stones may be the cause or consequence of frequent urinary tract infections.

The most common symptoms are:

• Pain.
• Hematuria.
• Urine infections.