Calcium stones are the most common kidney stones. There are two main types of calcium stones:

• Calcium oxalate stones − form when your urine has high amounts of calcium and oxalate
• Calcium phosphate stones − form when your urine has high calcium and alkaline urine, meaning the urine has a high pH

To prevent calcium stones from forming, your child will need to make changes in his or her diet. A dietitian will help you with specific changes to your child’s diet. Basic dietary changes include:

• Drinking more fluids
• Decreasing salt (sodium)
• Decreasing animal proteins, such as meats, eggs, and fish
• Getting enough calcium from foods
• Avoiding foods high in oxalate

Cystine stones develop from genetic defects that prevent the body from reabsorbing certain amino acids. One of those amino acids is cystine. When cystine builds up in the urine, crystals form, resulting in kidney stones.

Treatment for cystine stones begins with a combination of medication and changes in your child’s diet. Diet changes include:

• Drinking more fluids
• Reducing salt (sodium)
• Decreasing animal proteins, such as meats, eggs, and fish

People with Cystinuria (too much cystine in the urine) should understand that water is a necessary medication. However, once stones have formed, treatment begins with ESWL (extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy). If ESWL does not work, surgery may be required.

Uric acid stones and Struvite stones are less common.

Uric acid stones form when the urine has too much acid in it. A diet rich in animal proteins may contribute to this kind of stone.

Struvite stones form when someone has frequent urinary tract infections.