An acute attack of pain requires urgent treatment with strong painkilling and antispasmodic drugs prescribed by a physician. Large quantities of fluid should be drunk, because this helps the stone to pass down the ureter. All the urine that is passed must be filtered through a fine cloth so that the stone can be retrieved for testing. It is usual to have an X ray a few weeks later to make certain that a second stone has not stuck in the ureter. The stone may obstruct urine flow and cause hydronephrosis or frequent attacks of pyelonephritis.
Stones occur more commonly in hot climates as the urine is more concentrated.
People in tropical countries must drink plenty of fluids. Acute or chronic glomerulonephritis may result in the disorder. Also, any abnormality that causes an increase in the pressure of blood in the veins leaving the kidney produces congestion in the kidney tissue. This can happen in heart failure or following a thrombosis in the renal vein. It may also be caused by a reaction to drug treatment.