Summer heat pushes kidney stone cases up by over 60% in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: The soaring temperatures have led to an exponential rise in cases of kidney stones in Hyderabad with some hospitals in the city recording an over 60% jump in their count of patients. Doctors at govt and private facilities say that they are treating hundreds of people every week — from a few dozen walking in during the rest of the year.
At the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), for instance, doctors said that their monthly caseload jumped to over 750 from the usual 400 to 450 in March and April while at the Osmania General Hospital (OGH) and Gandhi Hospital these figures shot up to over 1,000 and 500 respectively. Prior to the summer season, these numbers were restricted to 600 and 300 (approx).

The rush at private hospitals such as the Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology (AINU) too is equally high. Here, doctors say that they treat over 300 to 400 patients, across their four facilities in Hyderabad, every day.
The primary reason for this steep jump, doctors say, is insufficient hydration amid rising temperatures. Poor dietary habits is another critical concern.
"Kidney stone cases do increase during the summer due to increased dehydration. This leads to more concentration of urine and the formation of crystals, which further develops into stones. As people sweat more in summers and do not hydrate as much as they should, it creates a suitable environment for these stones to develop. Hence it is essential to consume 2.5 to 3 litres of water daily," said Dr Manisha Sahay, head of department, OGH, adding how the numbers are particularly high this years owing to a severe summer.
"Along with less water intake, increased consumption of protein and salt also contributes to kidney stones," said Dr Sreebhushan Raju, HOD, nephrology dept, NIMS, adding, "But cutting down on salt for a few days is not the solution. It needs to be done gradually. Also, stones can recur in people who already have already had a stone earlier or are dealing with obesity. Genetic history, lifestyle and other medical conditions can also lead to kidney stones."
While the condition is largely reported among people in the 30 to 60 years age bracket, doctors say that they are getting several cases of kids — as young as three to seven years old — walking in with similar complaints.
"Apart from being genetic, consumption of contaminated drinking water can also lead to kidney stones among children as their organs are more vulnerable to infections," said Dr S Anand, associate professor, urology at OGH, who has been treating a large number of kids over the past few weeks. He said how paediatric renal stone cases raise concern over the long-term renal health of future generations.
High consumption of junk food is also a concerning trend, contributing to a spike in kidney stone cases among children, added Dr Taif Bendegeri, senior consultant urologist at AINU.
Underlying the severity of summers, doctors stressed that if kidney stones are left untreated, they will develop into chronic kidney diseases (CKD). "If you have one stone, you are at increased risk of having another stone if left untreated. If the urine flow is obstructed, it will require a surgical process," said Dr Manjusha Yadla, HOD, nephrology at Gandhi Hospital calling for change in dietary habits and regular screening, to battle the condition.