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. Medical treatment is more successful in prevention of stones than in dissolving them after they have formed. The technique, risk, benefits, success and potential complication vary, thus I would advise you to discuss these with your urologist. ESWL is one of the most popular techniques today. During endourologic procedures the urologist looks directly into the ureter, and manipulates and retrieves the stone with small instruments.