Ways To Detect Kidney Stones: The problem of kidney stones is increasing rapidly among the youth. Many times the stone is small, so people do not even notice it. People come to know about kidney stones only when the stone comes out or gets stuck in the urinary tract. When the amount of minerals like calcium, oxalate and uric acid increases in the body, they join together and form small crystals, which later take the form of stones. This question often arises in the minds of patients whether this stone can be detected only through a simple blood test? If kidney stones can be detected through a blood test, then why do doctors recommend ultrasound? Get the answers to all these questions from the doctor.

Dr. Amarendra Pathak, Vice Chairman of Urology Department of Sir Gangaram Hospital, New Delhi told News18. It is difficult to detect kidney stones through blood test. Through blood test, the level of calcium or uric acid present in the blood is known. If the levels of both are higher than normal, it may be a sign of kidney stones. However, the stone cannot be confirmed on this basis alone. Many things including kidney function, creatinine level, infection can be detected through blood test. If there is obstruction in the urinary tract due to stones, the level of creatinine and urea in the blood may increase, which indicates the pressure on the kidneys. Blood test shows whether any internal infection is spreading in the body due to stones. However, these tests only give indirect indications.

Urologist told that ultrasound is advised to detect kidney stones. In this, actual pictures of kidney, ureter and bladder are made. With this, kidney stones are detected and their number, size and location also becomes clear. This information is possible only through ultrasound or CT scan. A major reason for recommending ultrasound is to identify hydronephrosis. Sometimes even small stones block the urinary tract, due to which the kidneys start filling with urine and become swollen. Blood test cannot see this swelling, but it is immediately detected in ultrasound. If this blockage is not detected in time, it can cause permanent damage to the kidneys.

According to the doctor, blood test and ultrasound together help the doctor to decide whether the patient needs medicines or surgery. If the stone is seen in ultrasound in a small and safe place, then doctors try to remove it only with water and medicines. If signs of infection are seen in the blood test and the size of the stone is large in the ultrasound, then immediate medical treatment is required. Both these tests are necessary to detect kidney related problems. Blood test tells the chemistry of the body, while ultrasound helps in understanding the geography of the body.