Discuss the types, causes and dietary management of urinary calculi.
How to lay out the answer. Follow the frame, then write it in your own words.
1 · Open in two lines. Urinary calculi are hard crystal masses formed in the urinary tract from salts in concentrated urine. Diet prevents most new stones.
2 · Draw the urinary tract. [Sketch: kidney, ureter, bladder with stones marked; arrow showing pain from loin to groin]
3 · Types of stones. Calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, uric acid, struvite, cystine, with cause of each.
4 · Causes and symptoms.
Low fluid, hot climate, salt, animal protein, oxalate, gout, infection.
Renal colic, blood in urine, burning urination.
5 · Diet principles. Fluid 2.5-3 L, normal calcium, low oxalate, salt under 5 g, moderate animal protein, citrate; purine limit for uric acid stones.
6 · Foods and menu. Include and avoid lists; a one-day menu.
7 · Close in one line. Water is the cheapest medicine against kidney stones.
Scoring tip: Say clearly that calcium is not restricted; many students lose marks by writing a low-calcium diet.
