Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDiarrhea as SymptomDiarrhea as CauseTreating DiarrheaOther GI SymptomsWhen to Seek Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Diarrhea as Symptom
Diarrhea as Cause
Treating Diarrhea
Other GI Symptoms
When to Seek Care
Diarrhea is not a symptom commonly associated with kidney stones, although it has been known to occur on occasion, particularly in children.However, becausediarrheacan causechronic dehydration,it is a major contributing factor to the formation of kidney stones.
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Kidney Stones and Diarrhea Symptoms
Kidney stones (calledrenal calculi) develop when your urine becomes overly saturated with stone-forming materials that, over time, can bind together to form hardened stones. These stones are then passed from a kidney to theurinary tractto be expelled in urine.
The passing of a stone can cause sharp, often excruciating waves of pain known asrenal colic. The pain occurs when a stone gets stuck in one of the tubes (ureters) that transfer urine from thekidneysto thebladder.
In addition to intermittent fever, chills, andflank pain, renal colic can causefrequent urination, pain with urination (dysuria), low urine output, and blood in the urine (hematuria).Gastrointestinal (GI) symptomssuch as abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting are also common.
The one GI symptom not commonly associated with kidney stones is diarrhea. While it can occur, diarrhea is an infrequent symptom and not among the “classic” signs of kidney stone disease.
On occasion, diarrhea can sometimes affect younger children with kidney stones. In children under 10, the passing of a stone will often cause atypical symptoms such as diarrhea,loss of appetite, anxiety, vomiting, and unexplained fever.
The same may be seen in adults withsubacute(not yet chronic but past the stage of being sudden or short-lived) symptoms in whom dull low-back pain and diarrhea may be the only signs. Cases like these are often discovered incidentally during anabdominal X-rayorultrasound.
Kidney Infection and Kidney StonesDiarrhea can also sometimes occur with a kidney infection, known aspyelonephritis.Recurrent infections can lead to the formation of a specific type of stone—called a struvite stone—that can grow quite large and cause complete obstruction of urine flow.Although rare, the co-occurrence of pyelonephritis with a stone-related obstruction can lead tokidney failureand irreversible kidney damage.
Kidney Infection and Kidney Stones
Diarrhea can also sometimes occur with a kidney infection, known aspyelonephritis.Recurrent infections can lead to the formation of a specific type of stone—called a struvite stone—that can grow quite large and cause complete obstruction of urine flow.Although rare, the co-occurrence of pyelonephritis with a stone-related obstruction can lead tokidney failureand irreversible kidney damage.
Diarrhea can also sometimes occur with a kidney infection, known aspyelonephritis.Recurrent infections can lead to the formation of a specific type of stone—called a struvite stone—that can grow quite large and cause complete obstruction of urine flow.
Although rare, the co-occurrence of pyelonephritis with a stone-related obstruction can lead tokidney failureand irreversible kidney damage.
Reasons for Having Both at Once
Although diarrhea is not a classic symptom of kidney stones, kidney stones may be the consequence ofchronic diarrhea.This, in turn, predisposes you to chronicdehydration, leading to a high concentration of stone-forming materials in your urine.
This is especially true of the two main types of kidney stones, which are:
Among the conditions associated with chronic diarrhea and an increased risk of stones are:
Treating Diarrhea as a Kidney Stone Passes
Based on the findings, the following treatment options may be recommended:
Increased fluid intakecan help pass a stone. Plain water generally works best assports drinkscontain high levels ofsodiumthat increase calcium levels and can promote the formation of calcium stones.
Medications that aid with the passing of a stone, such asFlomax (tamsulosin), pose minimal risk of diarrhea and are generally safe to use with drugs like Imodium.
However, Flomax can interact with drugs like metronidazole and budesonide and may require a dose adjustment to avoid the interaction. Speak with your healthcare provider.
What Other GI Symptoms Are Related to Kidney Stones?
Renal colic is mainly experienced when a ureter is obstructed. As a kidney stone passes into this narrow tube, it can become stuck, triggering powerful spasms lasting 15 to 45 minutes. Once the stone is eventually pushed into the bladder, the pain almost entirely ceases.
In tandem with fever, flank pain, and urination problems, the passing of a kidney stone can also cause GI symptoms such as:
When to Check With a Healthcare Provider
Although diarrhea is a relatively uncommon sign of kidney stones, any long-lasting condition that causes diarrhea places you at risk of severe dehydration if left untreated.
Seek urgent care if you develop signs of severe dehydration, such as:
In extreme cases,intravenous (IV) fluidsmay be needed to avoid a potentially life-threatening drop in blood pressure, leading toshock, multiorgan failure, and even death.
Even if you have no other symptoms, seek immediate care if you completely stop peeing. The condition (anuria) is considered a medical emergency.
Although rare, anuria can occur if you have multiple kidney stones causing the blockage of both ureters at once. Left untreated, anuria can cause the toxic accumulation of waste products in the blood, leading touremiaand death.
Summary
Diarrhea is not a symptom commonly associated with kidney stones but one that sometimes occurs in younger children or adults with subacute symptoms. On the other hand, chronic diarrhea can contribute to the formation of kidney stones due to the loss of fluids and the saturation of stone-forming substances in your urine.
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