Kidney stones are actually the hard concretions of several minerals and a number of other minerals found usually in the urine. These minerals and elements typically form stones in the kidney prior to passing down the tubes to the bladder. Very rarely it has been observed that stones are formed in the bladder. Kidney stone can actually occur at any age surprisingly in the premature infants as well. But they most commonly occur in the teens with the adolescent girls having the highest number of occurrences.

Types of Kidney Stones in Adolescents

There are a number of different types of kidney stones occurring in the adolescents but the most common among them is calcium stones in association with a number of other minerals. The size of the stones usually ranges from just a fraction of an inch to about several inches. The most common size is about ¼ to ½ inch.

Causes of Stones in Adolescents

The rising incidence of kidney stones in adolescents is mainly due to the diet and the amount of fluid intake. In some of the cases, it has been observed that the stones occur as a result of the following.

• Specific problem as a result of heredity
• Infection of the kidneys
• Blockage in the flow of urine

Symptoms and Signs to Watch Out For

The adolescents might not be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of kidney stones even if they occur and hence the parents or guardians should necessarily keep a close watch. The most common symptoms in the adolescents, as well as the teens, are as listed below.

• A sudden onset of pain sometimes unbearable in the side or the back. Most importantly, the pain is generally consistent and severe that does not go away easily along with vomiting or nausea
• The pain might be moving to the groin area as and when the kidney stone passes down the urinary tract where the pain might intensify.
• Appearance of blood in the urine is also an important sign of kidney stone to watch out for.

Diagnosis of the Stones

The kidney stones disease being on the rise among the adolescents, proper diagnosis is quite essential. As they are young, they are unable to tell the exact position of the pain and the complaint is just that their tummy hurts which is the reason as to why correct diagnosis is essential. The stones are usually discovered by the x rays, ultrasound, CT scan, urine examination and an evaluation for a urinary tract infection.

Treatment of the Stones

After the proper diagnosis is made, the target is to flush the stone out of the kidney. The adolescents are recommended to drink a large volume of water and other fluids. This is done when the stones are very small. In case the stones are harder and larger in size, the kidney stone treatment might require surgery or lithotripsy for getting rid of the stones from the kidney permanently.