Kidney Stones
Are kidney stones dangerous with a fever?
What is the short answer?
A fever can mean urine is trapped behind the stone and infected.
That kind of infection can spread to the blood fast.
What happens at a visit?
Our two Gwinnett offices each include a surgery center: Snellville at 1557 Janmar Rd, Snellville, GA 30078 and Lawrenceville at 501 Crown Pointe Way, Lawrenceville, GA 30046. Let us know which part of the county you call home, and we’ll take it from there.
How do our urologists approach this?
A stone with fever needs fast care, and the ER comes first. Once the infection is under control, often after the blocked kidney has been drained, our urologists plan how to remove the stone. Then we look at why you formed it, so you’re less likely to face this again.
What happens at a visit?
After an ER visit, bring your discharge papers, scan results and the names of any antibiotics you were given. We’ll go over your symptoms, check your urine and plan the next step for the stone. That might be ureteroscopy, shock wave lithotripsy or another approach.
How should I prepare?
Bring ER discharge papers. Bring your antibiotic name.
When should I call?
Call us after you leave the ER so we can schedule your follow-up quickly. Call again if pain returns or you have a stent and notice heavy bleeding. With any new fever, go back to the ER.
What do patients often ask?
These are the questions we hear most, each with a short answer.
Why is a fever with a stone so serious?
Urine trapped behind the stone can become infected, and that infection can spread to the blood quickly.
What is a stent?
A stent is a thin, soft tube placed between the kidney and bladder to let urine drain past a blockage until the stone is treated.
Is there a video on this?
Once the infection is treated, this Advanced Urology video covers three common ways stones are removed.
- Watch: Kidney Stones? 3 Ways to Remove Them What the video covers: Dr. Casey McCullough explains three ways to treat a kidney stone that won’t pass, including shock wave lithotripsy, and how stone size, location and hardness guide the choice.
What should I read next?
Educational content; your own care plan comes from a visit. Back to the reading room