Kidney stones are hard objects that form from chemicals in your urine. There are numerous types, but they all have similar symptoms, which can be extremely uncomfortable, particularly if kidney stones are left to grow over time.
How are kidney stones caused?
The kidneys are fist-sized organs that handle the body’s fluid and chemical levels.
Most people have two kidneys, one on each side of the spine behind the liver, stomach, pancreas and intestines.
Healthy kidneys clean waste from the blood and remove it from the urine.
In some cases, a kidney stone can block the ureter, a tube that connects the kidney to the bladder, and can result in a kidney infection.
The symptoms of a kidney infection are similar to symptoms of kidney stones, but may also include:
• a high temperature
• chills and shivering
• feeling very weak or tired
• diarrhea
• cloudy and bad-smelling urine