Appendicitis vs Kidney Stones
Appendicitis is an acute inflammation of the appendix, part of the colon [1, 2]. Typically, it presents with pain in the lower right part of the abdomen [2].
Kidney stones are hard mineralsand salt stones formed in the urinary tract [3]. They vary in size. Small ones can pass without symptoms, but bigger stones can lead to symptoms [4].
A characteristic symptom of kidney stones is pain, called renal colic. It is a sharp pain on the side of the back or abdomen. Especially in men, the pain can radiate to the groin [5].
What is appendicitis?
Appendicitis is an acute inflammation of the appendix, a small thumb-like structure attached to the colon [1]. The appendix is normally located on the lower right side of the abdomen [2].
The main mechanism leading to inflammation of the appendix is obstruction of this small tube-like structure. Commonly, it is blocked by fecal matter. However, excessive mucus or parasites can also lead to obstruction [6]. Nevertheless, sometimes, the exact cause of appendicitis remains unknown.
Acute inflammation of the appendix develops as the occlusion increases the pressure, abnormal blood flow, and subsequent inflammation [7] by the gut bacteria.
Appendicitis is an emergency and demands treatment. If left without therapy, the inflammation can burst and spread to the abdomen, causing peritonitis [7].
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What can cause appendicitis?
The exact cause of appendicitis is not always known. However, among the potential causes are
- appendiceal lumen obstruction [8],
- lymphoid hyperplasia [9],
- intestinal parasites [10],
- inflammatory bowel disease [8],
- obstruction by a tumor [9],
- obstruction by a foreign body [11],
- bacterial or viral infections, caused commonly by E. coli, Peptostreptococcus, or Pseudomonas [9].
What are the symptoms of appendicitis?
Appendicitis is characterized by a special pain. It can start on the right side of the lower abdomen or around the nevus and later shift to the right lower abdomen [2].
Typically, the pain worsens with movements like walking or during coughing [2].
The pain can be accompanied by
- nausea and vomiting [2],
- loss of appetite [2],
- fever, which is low-grade at the beginning and rises with the disease [2],
- constipation [2],
- diarrhea [2],
- abdominal bloating [6].
Some people with appendicitis can also experience pelvic or lower back pain. It can happen when the appendix is behind the colon [6].
Children with appendicitis tend to have more diffuse pain in the belly [12].
The symptoms of appendicitis can vary, and not everyone experiences all of them [2, 13].
What is a kidney stone?
Kidney stones, also known as renal calculi, nephrolithiasis, or urolithiasis, are hard mineral and salt deposits inside the kidneys [14, 15] or in the urinary tract [3].
Kidney stones vary in size. They can be small, like sand, or, in rare cases, more than 1.5 inches large [4].
The most common type of kidney stone is made of calcium, more specifically, calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate. Calcium kidney stones account for around 80% of all cases. However, other types can occur, like uric acid, cystine, or struvite kidney stones [4, 3].
Kidney stones are not rare. However, if many individuals in your family have them, you may be at an increased risk for them [16].
What can cause kidney stones?
Many factors can contribute to the formation of renal calculi.
The primary cause of kidney stones is insufficient hydration. When drinking little, the kidney produces highly concentrated urine. This densely packed urine, which is rich in minerals and salts, allows molecules to stick together and create kidney stones [3, 14, 17, 18].
Dietary habits can also play a role in kidney stone formation. A diet high in sodium, sugar, protein, and oxalate-containing foods increases the risk of kidney stones [3, 5, 18].
Moreover, the risk of kidney stones is higher in certain health conditions like
- obesity [3],
- diabetes [3],
- hypertension [17],
- hyperthyroidism [3] ,
- hyperoxaluria [17] ,
- cystinuria [17],
- cystic kidney disease [3],
- renal tubular acidosis [17] ,
- gout [17],
- urinary tract infections [17] or chronic bowel inflammation [3].
People who take specific drugs and supplements are also at risk. For instance, taking long-term diuretics, calcium-based antacids, HIV medications, vitamin C, and dietary supplements put you at a higher risk of kidney stones. Also, excessive use of laxatives can promote the formation of kidney stones [3].
Genetics plays an important role in the formation of kidney stones. Hereditary conditions like cystinuria [17] can definitely increase the risk of kidney stones. Also, people with a family history of stones in the urinary system have an elevated risk [3, 5].
Other factors that contribute to the renal calculi formation are
What are the symptoms of kidney stones?
Often, the symptoms of kidney stones become noticeable when the stones move out of the kidneys into the ureter. Many smaller stones pass through the urinary tract without notice [3].
Commonly, kidney stones cause severe pain, which is referred to as renal colic. It occurs on the side of the back or abdomen. This pain can radiate to the groin or abdomen [14, 5].
Other symptoms of kidney stones are
- blood in the urine [3],
- nausea and vomiting [14],
- general feeling of restlessness [5],
- foul-smelling urine [3],
- chills and fever if an infection is present [4],
- burning sensation during urination or an urgency to urinate [3],
- cloudy urine [3],
In severe cases, kidney stones can lead to an inability to urinate [3].