Sometimes, after an ultrasound scan, the doctor makes a diagnosis - "kidney microliths". What is it and is it worth it to panic? Microlites in medicine are called sand and small stones, which for some reason precipitated in the kidneys. These formations usually do not cause any concern, but you should not take such a diagnosis lightly. Indeed, over time, these small pebbles can greatly increase in size and turn into large stones, which are much more difficult to deal with. The last stage before the development of urolithiasis is kidney microliths. What is it, how to treat it, the causes and symptoms of the disease you will learn from this article.
Causes of occurrence
For any disease, before starting treatment, it is necessary to find out the cause of the pathology. Only in this case, the therapy will be most effective. This also applies to the diagnosis of renal microliths. What is this pathology, why does it appear? The main causes of microliths are as follows:
- Heredity - violations of water-salt metabolism due to genetic changes in the composition of proteins.
- Congenital pathologies of the development of the urinary system, which lead to stagnation of urine in the kidneys and the deposition of salt crystals.
- Inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract.
- Endocrine Disorders In this case, there is a failure in metabolic processes, which becomes the reason for the increased release of calcium from the body.
- Inadequate fluid intake. In this case, urine becomes very concentrated and the amount of salts in it increases significantly. In some regions where water is very hard, the presence of microliths in the kidneys is not uncommon.
- Improper nutrition. An excess of spicy and salty foods, meat in the diet increases the risk of this disease.
- Hypovitaminosis.
- Various neoplasms that interfere with the normal outflow of urine.
Symptoms
The disease has no special manifestations. During a routine examination or going to the doctor for another reason, the diagnosis “kidney microlites” suddenly sounds. What and where it came from, a person can not even guess. Further examination reveals other signs of kidney microliths.
For example, when collecting urine for analysis, it is easy to notice its clouding. Sometimes a pinkish tint appears in it, which is caused by damage to the mucous membrane of the urinary tract by the sharp edges of the microliths. This can lead to inflammatory diseases, such as cystitis and pyelonephritis, with the appearance of symptoms characteristic of these pathologies.
The most common symptom is pain, which can be stitching, cutting, dull, or sharp. Pain arises mainly due to the retention of urine, in the way of which small stones stood. Accumulating in any part of the ureter, microliths can provoke the development of renal colic, which is manifested by sharp acute pain. Unpleasant sensations begin in the lower back and are given to the genitals and the inner surface of the thigh.
Localization
Right kidney microliths should not be confused with diseases of the gallbladder or liver. Sometimes even the patient was on the operating table to remove the appendix. Pain in this case gives to the lower abdomen.
Microlites of the left kidney can be detected only when the size of the crystals reaches several millimeters. To make a diagnosis, it is necessary to exclude intestinal diseases and myositis of the lumbar muscles. A person has lower back pain, which intensifies with exertion and attempts to change the position of the body.
Diagnostics
To determine the presence of this disease, the following studies are carried out:
- General urine analysis. Allows you to determine microhematuria, the amount and chemical composition of salts, the presence of bacteria.
- Complete blood count to detect inflammatory processes. Lets you know if an infection has occurred.
- Blood test for biochemistry - determines the nature of metabolic disorders.
- Ultrasound diagnosis is the main method of researching this disease.
- Emergency urography helps determine the location, number and size of microliths. During this study, a contrast agent is injected into a vein and a series of x-rays are taken.
Sometimes you have to resort to such a research method as radioisotope scintigraphy.
How to treat
The diagnosis of "microliths of both kidneys" does not need surgery. The treatment of such a disease is conservative and depends on the results of the examination. Basically, the doctor prescribes drugs that contribute to the dissolution of microliths. Sometimes it becomes necessary to use antispasmodic and diuretics in order to facilitate the exit of small stones. If the lesions are seen only in one of the kidneys, then perhaps the cause of the disease was inflammation in it. In this case, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drugs are prescribed, which are also necessary in case of urinary tract infection. A good result is observed in the treatment of decoctions and infusions of plants that have diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties.
It is very important to eat right, because microliths of both kidneys are a sign that the patient has a metabolic disorder.
Diet
If you have microlites, you must abandon meat, fish broths, spinach, sorrel, legumes, offal, sausages, smoked meats, salted, spicy foods, chocolate, strong tea and coffee, alcoholic beverages. In general, the diet depends on what kind of microlites are found. Phosphate makes urine alkaline, which means that you will have to limit the use of fruits and vegetables, dairy products. Meat, fish, flour products, and vegetable oils will be beneficial as they acidify urine. If carbonate microlites are found, you need to abandon dairy products and eat more meat and fish, cereals, flour products, eggs. Timely access to a doctor, making the correct diagnosis and following all the recommendations will allow you to get rid of the disease without surgical intervention.