A20-year-old Taiwanese woman recently underwent surgery to have over 300 small stones removed from her right kidney. Xiao Yu complained of severe pain in her lower back and a CT scan showed that Yu’s right kidney was full of fluid and virtually full of kidney stones. After the initial procedure of medication and tests, the surgery to remove over 300 stones, between 5mm and 2cm in size, was performed.

Although multiple factors can lead to the formation of kidney stones, in this particular case, the patient did not enjoy drinking water at all, instead relied on sugary teas and juices.

This caused chronic dehydration, a condition in which the urine becomes more concentrated and the minerals in it crystalise to form stones.

Published in Dawn, Young World, January 6th, 2024