Q. Are kidney stones fatal?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
No, kidney stones are generally not fatal. However, if the stones block the flow of urine out of the kidneys, they can lead to serious complications such as renal failure and urinary tract infections. If left untreated, these serious complications can cause death. Therefore, it is important for patients with kidney stones to get timely diagnosis and treatment so that their condition does not worsen over time.
More specifically speaking about different types of kidney stones, calcium oxalate stone(the most common type) rarely causes any life-threatening situation whereas uric acid stone (the second most common type) has higher chances of being fatal depending on its size or location in the urinary system. Studies have shown that small amounts of calcium oxalate crystals may even go unnoticed without causing any health issues but large amounts can be particularly painful and even result in severe infection if left untreated for too long.
In conclusion, while kidney stones themselves are usually not considered fatal , it is important to seek medical attention whenever you experience signs or symptoms associated with them like blood in urine or pain due to obstruction because they could lead to more dangerous conditions if timely treatment is not sought after.
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