If urinary tract infection is not treated in time, be careful of urinary tract stones!

Clinically, male patients with urinary tract stones are significantly more than female patients. According to statistics, the number of male patients with urinary tract stones is 4-5 times that of female patients. It can be seen that men must pay attention to prevention in their daily lives. So, what are the causes of urinary tract stones?

1. Epidemiological factors

Including age, gender, occupation, socioeconomic status, dietary composition and structure, water intake, climate, metabolism and genetic factors. Upper urinary tract stones are more common in people aged 20 to 50. Men are more likely to develop them than women. The peak age of onset for men is 35. There are two peaks for women, at 30 and 55. During World War II, the incidence of upper urinary tract stones decreased, but during the interval and in the past four decades, the incidence increased significantly, suggesting that it is related to changes in economic income and dietary structure. Experiments have shown that an increase in animal protein and refined sugar and a decrease in fiber in the diet promote the formation of upper urinary tract stones. Drinking plenty of water dilutes the urine and can reduce the formation of crystals in the urine. Relatively high temperatures and reduced activity are also influencing factors, but occupation and climate are not the only determining factors.

(II) Urine factors

1. Excessive excretion of stone-forming substances: Increased excretion of calcium, oxalic acid, and uric acid in urine. Long-term bed rest, hyperparathyroidism (resorption hypercalcification), idiopathic hypercalcification (absorption hypercalcification - increased intestinal calcium absorption or renal hypercalcification - decreased tubular calcium reabsorption), other metabolic abnormalities, and renal tubular acidosis all increase urinary calcium excretion. Gout, persistent acidity of urine, chronic diarrhea, and thiazide diuretics all increase uric acid excretion, and increased endogenous synthesis of oxalic acid or increased intestinal absorption of oxalic acid can cause hyperoxaluria.

2. Uric acid decreases and pH increases.

3. Decreased urine volume increases the concentration of salts and organic substances.

4. The content of substances that inhibit crystal formation in urine decreases, such as citric acid, pyrophosphate, magnesium, acidic mucopolysaccharides, and certain trace elements.

(III) Abnormal anatomical structure

For example, urinary tract obstruction may lead to the deposition of crystals or matrix in areas with poor drainage, and urine retention may lead to urinary tract infection, which is conducive to the formation of stones.

(IV) Urinary tract infection

The cause of most calcium oxalate stones is unknown. Calcium phosphate and magnesium ammonium phosphate stones are related to infection and obstruction. Uric acid stones are related to gout, etc. Cystine stones are a rare familial genetic disease caused by the excretion of large amounts of cystine in the urine.