In a shocking turn of events, a 20-year-old woman from Taiwan had to be hospitalised due to intense fever and back pain, revealing 300 stones in her kidneys. On further inspection, the woman revealed that she does not drink water, and instead relies on drinking bubble tea daily.
While severe dehydration is a well-known cause of kidney stones, as has been confirmed by the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), for a young girl to have 300 kidney stones is truly a bizarre case. To understand more about this curious case, the team of OnlyMyHealth spoke to Dr Puneet Bhuwania, Consultant Nephrologist & Transplant Physician, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road.
What Causes Kidney Stones?
Explaining how severe dehydration causes kidney stones, Dr Bhuwania shared, “Chronic dehydration can lead to concentrated urine, reducing its volume and increasing the likelihood of crystal formation. Insufficient fluid intake contributes to the accumulation of minerals, such as calcium and oxalate, forming kidney stones over time.”
A poor lifestyle that compromises adequate water intake has been prevalent across the globe since the dawn of sugary and artificial drinks. According to NKF, every year more than half a million people go to emergency rooms for kidney stones. As per estimates, one in ten people will develop a kidney stone at least once in their life.
The problem of kidney stones can be further exacerbated by drinks with added sugar and food colouring, which in the current case was bubble tea. Also called boba tea, bubble tea is a Taiwanese drink with tea, milk, flavouring, and tapioca pearls. Dr Bhuwania explained, “Artificially sweetened drinks can contribute to kidney stone formation due to high levels of phosphoric acid. This acid can increase urinary acidity, promoting the formation of crystals. Additionally, these beverages may lead to dehydration, compounding the risk.”
Also Read: From Headaches To Kidney Damage, Expert Lists 6 Adverse Effects Of Consuming Too Much Salt
Kidney Stones After Effects
It shouldn’t be hard to imagine just how painful having 300 kidney stones must be. Explaining the repercussions of having these many kidney stones, Dr Bhuwania said, “Having numerous kidney stones may lead to recurrent episodes of intense pain, urinary tract infections, and potential kidney damage. The risk of complications, such as blockages or reduced kidney function, increases with the number of stones.”
However, the question still stands, how did the girl not notice any signs that she has so many kidney stones? Dr Bhuwania explained, “Having a large number of kidney stones without noticeable signs may occur if the stones are small or asymptomatic. Some individuals may not experience pain or other symptoms until the stones grow in size or cause a blockage.”
Dr Bhuwani’s comments highlighted the importance of regular medical check-ups and imaging, in addition to the significance of staying properly hydrated, and not switching water with harmful drinks with added sugar.
