Introduction
Kidney stones are a regular occurrence. Even if you’ve never experienced it, you probably know or have known someone who has. The pebble-sized stones are made of minerals and salts. Kidney stones are termed calculi or nephrolithiasis. When your body contains many minerals, and the water you consume is of poor quality, these minerals accumulate on the interior of your kidneys. You must first submit a urine sample and take a urine test to determine if you have them.
Kidney stones can cause pain if not treated. Untreated, they can also induce kidney infections or organ failure. Thus, kidney stones can kill you in severe cases.
This article explores the fatality of kidney stones. The article answers the most commonly asked question, i.e., can a kidney stone kill you? Here, we present the symptoms, treatment options, and complications associated with kidney stones that can kill a person. Moreover, the article also presents the kidney stones death rate.
Let’s find out can kidney stones kill you?
Can Kidney Stones Kill You?
In severe and prolonged cases, kidney stones can be fatal. Several kidney stones can kill a person if they remain untreated.
After passing through the kidney, stones can occasionally travel through the ureters and into the bladder. It may result in a urinary tract obstruction or blood in the urine. Urinary tract obstructions may also contribute to kidney infections.
Kidney stones can kill you if it passes down the urinary tract (into the ureter or bladders) where there is an infection. Moreover, if urine fails to get out and infection remains that turns into an abscess, a kidney stone can kill you in case of treatment absence.
Kidney Stones Symptoms
The size, as well as the location of the kidney stone, determines the presence of symptoms. Below are the common symptoms of calculi or kidney stones:
- Back pain
- Excess urination
- Stomach ache
- Painful urination
- Burning sensation during urination
Types of Kidney Stones
Below are the main types of kidney stones:
Uric Acid
This form of kidney stone is rather common and is induced by purine-rich meals such as organ meats and seafood. The body produces more monosodium urate when this material is present in large quantities. It results in the formation of calculi/kidney stones. If left untreated, these kidney stones can kill you.
Calcium Oxalate
These are the most prevalent kidney stone types. Calcium and oxalate in urine combine to form calcium oxalate kidney stones. The primary cause of calcium oxalate stone formation is a deficiency in fluids and calcium.
Struvite
Minerals, including phosphate and calcium deposits, lead to crystallization inside the kidneys. It, in turn, results in the formation of fatal stones. A urine test helps detect kidney stones by analyzing the presence of minerals in the urine.
Cystine
The formation of cystine stones is attributed to a hereditary condition called cystinuria. The condition is characterized by cystine excretion in the urine. Individuals suffering from inherited cystinuria have recurring kidney stones. They frequently require treatment to stop the formation of kidney stones that can kill you if not treated on time.
Complications Associated with Kidney Stones That Can Kill You
Kidney stones can result in the following complications that, if left untreated, could endanger a patient’s life. Hence, a kidney stone can kill you.
Kidney Damage
When kidney stones remain for an extended period, they can cause harm to the kidneys and renal system. The most concerning aspect is that most irreparable harm occurs without obvious signs. The individual is completely unaware of the severity of the condition. People do not receive the appropriate therapy when required, exacerbating the situation.
Chronic Kidney Disease
Recurrent kidney stones can cause the kidneys to stop functioning. A research of 5,971 women revealed that women with a history of kidney stones were 1,8 times more at risk of developing chronic kidney disease than women with no history of kidney stones. Chronic renal disease can result in the inability of one or both kidneys to function, and if left untreated, CKD can bring about severe complications.
Renal Infection
When kidney stones become lodged in the urinary tract, urine and bacteria can accumulate, leading to infection (sepsis). It could lead to the formation of an abscess and the development of infection in the kidney. A fever frequently accompanies kidney infections with chills. If a kidney infection is not treated timely, it might progress to sepsis, which is fatal. So, a kidney stone can kill you by causing severe renal infection.
Renal Failure
Kidney stones can cause both short-term and long-term renal failure, which is the inability of the kidneys to function. Kidney stones, particularly if they are large and many, can prevent the kidneys from functioning correctly, leading to renal failure. People with one kidney are far more likely to develop kidney stones, which can result in renal failure.
Hydronephrosis
It occurs when a large kidney stone becomes lodged in the ureter and prevents urine from escaping. Fluid accumulates in the kidney and causes it to enlarge. Hydronephrosis is a disorder that can progress to renal failure that affects the kidneys. Dialysis is the only treatment for this disease. Without dilatation, many complications could arise, some of which could be deadly.
Kidney Stones Death Rate
In America, more than 10% of individuals are affected with kidney stones, resulting in pain and poor quality of life. Each year, approx. 6 million Americans are diagnosed with nephrolithiasis. The kidney stone death rate is around 15.9 per 100,000 individuals. It is estimated that 52,547 deaths occur due to nephritis or nephrosis due to kidney stones. With proper management and timely diagnosis, it is possible to reduce the kidney stones death rate.
Treatment of Kidney Stones
Urine testing is the initial step in determining the source of the problem, and it should be performed immediately after the appearance of symptoms. Further testing includes blood tests, 24-hour urine culture tests, X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, or intravenous urography.
After that, the best treatment for you will depend on the sort of stone you have.
Medications, lithotripsy (surgery), and ureteroscopy are treatment options that prevent kidney stones from killing you.
To prevent kidney stones in the future, drinking plenty of water and taking oral hydration salts are necessary.
Conclusion
Kidney stones can kill you if they move into the ureter or tube that takes urine to the bladder. Kidney stones are typically made of a combination of the following: calcium, magnesium, sodium, and phosphorus.
As soon as you experience stone symptoms or suspect you have kidney stones, you should immediately consult a physician. When kidney stones are detected early, the doctor has more non-invasive treatment options.
Get in touch with the experts at HG Analytics for the best consultation experience. Our experts are steadfast in providing superior health care to reduce the kidney stones death rate. We offer specialized, uncompromising, cost-effective health care that fulfills the patients’ requirements.
Contact now for individualized, transparent, and well-coordinated diagnostic care for kidney stones.
