Batu karang means stones that form inside the body, most often kidney stones (batu karang dalam buah pinggang) and sometimes gallstones (batu karang dalam hempedu). Small stones often cause no symptoms, but a larger kidney stone can cause severe, wave-like pain in the side or lower back that may spread to the groin, while gallstones cause pain in the upper tummy, often under the right ribs. Not drinking enough water is a key cause of kidney stones. Most small kidney stones pass with water and painkillers within a few weeks; larger ones may need a procedure, and gallstones that cause symptoms are usually treated by removing the gallbladder. Drinking 2.5 to 3 litres of water a day and eating less salt help prevent kidney stones coming back.
Batu karang buah pinggang vs hempedu: what is the difference?
| Kidney stones (buah pinggang) | Gallstones (hempedu) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Kidneys, and the tubes that carry urine | Gallbladder (under the liver) and bile ducts |
| Typical pain | Side of the tummy or lower back, may spread to the groin; comes and goes | Middle of the tummy or under the right ribs; constant, lasting over 30 minutes to several hours |
| Other signs | Needing to pee often, cloudy pee, nausea, fever if infected | Nausea or vomiting; yellow skin or eyes if a duct is blocked |
| Main causes | Chemicals building up in urine, not drinking enough water | Age over 40, being a woman, obesity, high-fat low-fibre diet, rapid weight loss |
| Main treatment | Water and painkillers; procedures for larger stones | No treatment if no symptoms; surgery to remove the gallbladder if they cause problems |
Pain in the upper tummy can also come from the stomach; see our guide to gastrik and indigestion for how to tell them apart, and see a doctor if you are not sure.
Tanda batu karang: symptoms of kidney stones
According to the NHS, small kidney stones are common and often cause no symptoms; you may pass them in your urine without noticing. Larger stones can cause severe pain that:
- usually starts in the side of your tummy or lower back;
- may spread to the groin (top of the inner thigh), the testicles, or the area around the opening of the vagina;
- may come and go, with very severe spells and calmer periods.
You may also have:
- a high temperature, or feel hot, cold or shivery;
- feeling or being sick;
- needing to pee often (see our guide to kerap kencing);
- cloudy pee.
A doctor can often diagnose kidney stones from your symptoms, with urine or blood tests, and sometimes a CT scan (or an ultrasound in pregnancy and for children).
Punca batu karang: what causes kidney stones?
Kidney stones are usually caused by a build-up of chemicals in your urine that form hard lumps. The NHS says you are more likely to get them if you:
- do not drink enough water to stay hydrated, which is easy to do in Malaysia's heat;
- have a medical condition that increases certain chemicals in the body, such as metabolic syndrome;
- take certain medicines, including aspirin, antacids, diuretics and some antibiotics.
Stones are more likely to come back if you eat a high-protein, low-fibre diet, are inactive or bed-bound, often have kidney or urine infections (see our guide to UTI symptoms), have a close family member with kidney stones, or have had stones before.
An Italian study found that people who had had calcium kidney stones passed less urine each day than people without stones, showing how important fluid intake is.
Ubat batu karang: kidney stone treatment
According to the NHS, most kidney stones can be treated at home with medicine, although they can still be painful and may take a few weeks to pass. You will usually be advised to drink plenty of water and may be given:
- painkillers;
- anti-sickness medicine;
- medicine to help the stone pass in your urine.
You may be asked to collect the stone when it passes so it can be examined, which helps work out how to prevent more.
Larger stones may need treatment in hospital, such as:
- shock wave treatment from outside the body to break the stone into smaller pieces that are easier to pass;
- a thin tube passed up the urethra or through a small cut in the back to break up or remove the stone, done under general anaesthetic.
Drinks or herbal products marketed as "dissolving" stones should not replace medical assessment. Check that any product is registered (see how to verify KKM registration) and tell your doctor.
How to prevent kidney stones coming back
The NHS recommends:
- drink 2.5 to 3 litres of water a day (adults); children should drink 1 to 2 litres;
- check your pee colour: dark pee means you need to drink more;
- add fresh lemon juice to water;
- avoid lots of fizzy, caffeinated or alcoholic drinks;
- get enough calcium in your diet;
- eat less salt: less than 6 g a day for adults (see our guide to darah tinggi for easy ways to cut salt);
- do not make big changes to your diet without talking to your doctor.
The evidence. Two Italian trials support this advice:
- In 199 people who had had a first calcium kidney stone, those asked to drink a lot of water had fewer stones come back over 5 years (12% compared with 27% in those given no advice).
- In men with recurrent calcium oxalate stones, a diet with normal calcium but less salt and animal protein roughly halved the risk of new stones over 5 years compared with a low-calcium diet.
In practice, keep a water bottle with you, drink more on hot days and after exercise, and choose plain water over sweet drinks and teh tarik.
Batu karang dalam hempedu: gallstones
Gallstones are small stones that form in the gallbladder, a small organ under the liver that helps you digest food. According to the NHS, most people with gallstones do not get symptoms. If a stone blocks a bile duct, it can cause pain (biliary colic) that:
- feels severe and constant;
- lasts longer than 30 minutes and up to several hours;
- is in the middle of the tummy or just under the ribs on the right side;
- may make you feel sick or vomit.
Who is at risk? You may be more likely to get gallstones if you are over 40, a woman, living with obesity, eat a diet high in fat and low in fibre, have lost weight quickly (for example after weight loss surgery), or have a condition such as diabetes (see our guide to kencing manis) or Crohn's disease. If you are trying to lose weight, aim for steady rather than very rapid weight loss.
Treatment. Gallstones that do not cause symptoms may not need treatment. If they do cause symptoms or complications, the main treatment is surgery to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy). Stones in the bile duct may be cleared with a camera procedure called ERCP. While waiting for surgery, painkillers such as paracetamol, avoiding foods that trigger symptoms and a low-fat diet may help.
Rarely, gallstones cause serious complications such as inflammation of the gallbladder or pancreas, or jaundice (yellow skin or eyes, itchy skin, dark pee and pale stools).
When to get urgent help
Kidney stones: get urgent medical help if you think you have kidney stones and you are in severe pain, or you have a high temperature or feel hot, cold or shivery, which can mean infection.
Gallstones: see a doctor urgently if tummy pain lasts longer than 30 minutes. Call 999 or go to the emergency department if you have:
- sudden, severe tummy pain;
- pain spreading from your tummy to your back, with vomiting;
- a very high temperature, or feeling hot, cold or shivery;
- yellow skin or yellow whites of the eyes.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What is batu karang in English?
Batu karang is commonly used in Malaysia for stones that form inside the body. Most often it means kidney stones (batu karang dalam buah pinggang), but people also use it for gallstones (batu karang dalam hempedu). They are different conditions with different symptoms and treatments.
What are the signs of kidney stones (tanda batu karang)?
Small kidney stones often cause no symptoms. Larger stones can cause severe pain that starts in the side of the tummy or lower back, may spread to the groin or around the vagina or testicles, and comes and goes. Other signs include feeling sick, needing to pee often, cloudy pee and, if there is infection, a high temperature or shivering.
What causes batu karang (punca batu karang)?
Kidney stones are usually caused by a build-up of chemicals in the urine, and not drinking enough water is a major risk. Some medical conditions and medicines also raise the risk. Gallstones are more likely if you are over 40, a woman, living with obesity, eat a high-fat, low-fibre diet, have lost weight quickly, or have diabetes.
What is the best ubat batu karang?
Most small kidney stones pass on their own within a few weeks with plenty of water, painkillers, anti-sickness medicine and sometimes medicine to help the stone pass. Larger stones may need shock wave treatment or a procedure to break them up or remove them. Gallstones that cause symptoms are usually treated by removing the gallbladder.
How much water should I drink to prevent kidney stones?
The NHS recommends that adults drink 2.5 to 3 litres of water a day to help prevent kidney stones, and check that their pee is pale rather than dark. In a trial of people who had had a first kidney stone, those asked to drink a lot of water had fewer stones come back over 5 years (12% compared with 27%).
Should I avoid calcium if I have kidney stones?
No, not unless your doctor tells you to. The NHS advises getting enough calcium. In a trial of men with recurrent calcium stones, a diet with normal calcium but less salt and animal protein halved the risk of new stones compared with a low-calcium diet.
When is batu karang an emergency?
Get urgent medical help if you have severe pain, a high temperature or shivering with kidney stone symptoms. For gallstones, go to the emergency department if you have sudden severe tummy pain, pain spreading to your back with vomiting, a very high temperature, or yellow skin or eyes.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor or pharmacist. Health supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
References
- Kidney stones — NHS
- Gallstones — NHS
- Borghi L, et al. Urinary volume, water and recurrences in idiopathic calcium nephrolithiasis: a 5-year randomized prospective study. J Urol. 1996;155(3):839-843.
- Borghi L, et al. Comparison of two diets for the prevention of recurrent stones in idiopathic hypercalciuria. N Engl J Med. 2002;346(2):77-84.
