Diagnosis and treatment & Preventing new stones
Lesson 2 · 5 min
Based on MedlinePlus en español — Kidney Stones. Original educational summary, read by a medical doctor and confirmed reliable, pending formal approval. Not medical advice.
Learning objectives
- Explain diagnosis and treatment.
- Explain preventing new stones.
Diagnosis and treatment
Doctors diagnose stones with urine tests, blood tests, and imaging such as CT scans or ultrasound. Small stones usually pass on their own with plenty of fluids and pain relief; doctors may ask the person to strain urine to catch the stone for analysis. Larger stones that block urine flow or cause infection may need procedures: shock waves that break the stone into fragments, or endoscopic removal through the urinary tract.
Preventing new stones
A person who has had one stone has a higher chance of another, so prevention matters. Drinking enough water to produce about two liters of urine a day is the single most effective measure. Depending on the stone type, doctors may recommend limiting salt, reducing oxalate-rich foods, or moderating animal protein. Analyzing a passed stone guides these choices, and some people benefit from medicines that make urine less likely to form crystals.
Key concepts
- How stones form
- Kidney stones are hard deposits of minerals and salts that form inside the kidneys.
- The pain of a passing stone
- A stone that stays in the kidney may cause no symptoms.
- Diagnosis and treatment
- Doctors diagnose stones with urine tests, blood tests, and imaging such as CT scans or ultrasound.
- Preventing new stones
- A person who has had one stone has a higher chance of another, so prevention matters.