A 20-year-old Taiwanese woman named Xiao Yu reported to the Chi Mei Hospital in Tainan, Taiwan, with severe lower back pain and a high fever. The doctors then conducted ultrasonography and CT scans alongside a blood panel. This battery of tests made the shocking revelation that she had hundreds of kidney stones of sizes ranging from 2mm to over 2 cm, and there was an increase in the number of white blood cells as well. The doctors further assessed her dietary habits, and according to media reports, she drank bubble tea, fruit juices, and alcohol instead of simple water for hydration.
The doctors then took her under general anesthesia and removed the stones. The procedure took over two hours, and more than three hundred stones were removed.
The urologist, Dr. Lim Che Yung, who led the surgical team, then explained the importance of proper hydration with plain water. The doctor added that consuming an adequate amount of water to keep oneself hydrated and to prevent dehydration is essential, as it helps maintain mineral concentration in the blood and helps clear the excess through urine. He also made the important point that reduced water intake and consumption of foods rich in calcium and protein can increase the risk of developing kidney stones. The doctor, in his interview, added that this condition is quite common in males, and over 9.6% of the Taiwanese population over the age of 50–60 gets kidney stones in their lifetime.
The uncommon thing that gained the spotlight in the present case was the fact that the patient was only twenty years old and that she had avoided drinking water altogether and drank only bubble tea and juices for hydration. The patient was then stabilized after the completion of the surgical procedure and subsequently discharged.
(Input from various media sources)
(Rehash/MBT Desk)
