What are the symptoms of a kidney stone?

If you have any of the following, do not delay: go to the nearest emergency department or contact urology right away:

• Severe, unrelenting side/waist pain
• High fever and/or chills (possible infection)
• Inability to pass urine or sudden stop in urine flow
• Visible or heavy blood in the urine (marked hematuria)

These signs may indicate a serious complication and require urgent evaluation.

Symptoms that commonly occur with a kidney stone include:

• Sudden, intense pain in the waist or side (may radiate to the groin)
• Blood in the urine or darker urine color
• Nausea and vomiting
• Frequent urination or a strong urge to urinate
• Fever and chills (may indicate an accompanying infection)

These symptoms can have other causes; specialist assessment is recommended.

If you have emergency signs, go to the emergency department. If symptoms are not urgent, you can contact your primary care doctor or make an appointment with urology. Urology is the main specialty that evaluates stones and the urinary tract. You may be referred to other specialties if needed.

• Emergency signs — emergency department or urology
• Non-urgent symptoms — primary care or urology outpatient clinic
• Referral to other specialties if required (for example nephrology or infectious diseases)

When booking an appointment, be ready to describe pain location, duration and any urine changes.

After clinical assessment, the specialist will order appropriate tests. Common investigations include:

• Urinalysis (to check for blood or infection)
• Blood tests (assessing kidney function and signs of infection)
• Imaging: ultrasound or, if needed, computed tomography (CT)

The choice of tests depends on individual circumstances and the clinician’s judgment.

The following low‑risk measures are for general information and do not replace medical care:

• Monitor your symptoms and seek care if they worsen
• Maintaining adequate fluid intake is commonly advised as a general measure
• Rest and avoiding heavy physical exertion can help symptom management

These are not personalized medical recommendations. Specialist assessment is required for diagnosis and treatment.