Stone disease tends to run in families through a mechanism of partial penetrance due to a genetic defect. The typical stone patient is a Caucasian male between 20 and 60. In contrast, calculi are relatively common in children in Asia. The majority of stones in children are composed of uric acid. In the United States the south is considered a stone belt due to the increased temperature and humidity and resultant dehydration state.
Calcium stones are the most common.
It may spontaneously pass out of the urinary tract or remain in the kidney and grow, causing episodes of pain, hematuria, infection, and kidney damage. X-ray is the chief method used to diagnose kidney stones. Ultrasound can also be used to detect stones and urinary obstruction. Hospitalization is usually necessary for kidney obstruction and infection. A large number of kidney stones are small enough to pass spontaneously.