Lithiasis is a disease characterized by stones inside the urinary tract caused by the accumulation of the solid molecules diluted in the urine. And although women can also suffer from it, it is far more common in men.
Where is lithiasis formed?
- Lithiasis can be hosted in different places of the urinary tract:
- Renal lithiasis is the more common and it happens inside the kidneys.
- Urethral lithiasis usually comes from the renal lithiasis that’s moving towards the bladder. However it can be formed in the urethra too, even though is not very common.
- Vesicular lithiasis forms in the bladder and it’s more common in men over 50 years old.
- Prostatic lithiasis develops in the prostate.
What are the causes of lithiasis?
There are many factors that have an impact on the development of lithiasis, some of the most common causes are the weather, the person’s fluid intake, their diet, prescription drugs, age, metabolic syndrome, hypercalcemia, hyperthyroidism, hyperuricemia, intestinal malabsorption, deformities or physical alterations of the urinary tract, recurrent infections and immobilisation.
Hot weather may lead to dehydration which can cause lithiasis. The lack of water allows the amount of salt in the urine to increase which after building up for a while derives in lithiasis. Lack of calcium in the diet can also cause the stones to form due to the excess calcium oxalate the body excretes through the urine.
Some drugs like diuretics, corticoides and anti retrovirals may also cause lithiasis. And although people under 20 has a very low risk of suffering from this disease, men between 40 and 60 years old along with women between 50 and 60 years are rather prone to the diseases.
Excess calcium, uric acid, calcium oxalate and other metabolic disorders are common causes of lithiasis as well.
The symptoms
Lithiasis symptoms will depend on the location of the stones, the size of them and the level of obstruction they cause. Additionally the infection they can cause may vary too.
Although lithiasis is often asymptomatic, the patient may feel pain if the stone is blocking the urinary tract. Further the patient may experience nausea and vomit, constipation, pain in the lower abdomen, pain after urinating or blood in the urine.
Consequences of Lithiasis
The blockage of the urinary tract increases the pressure in the affected kidney and will progressively damage it. The kidney will suffer a series of changes that will end up undermining or even killing its function.
In a patient with both kidneys in good condition, if one of them gets affected by this condition, the other one will be able to maintain a normal kidney function for the two of them. However, in people with a big volume of mass, renal failure can be easily developed and dialysis might be necessary.
