Version July 2025
Please read the Disclaimer at the end of this page.
What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of your child after getting medical care in the emergency department ("ED").
What should I know? —
You brought your child to the ED for symptoms related to kidney stones. Sometimes, stones that start in the kidney are found in other places. These might be called "ureteral stones."
Most of the time, a kidney stone leaves the body when a person urinates. But sometimes, the stone gets stuck on the way out. This can cause pain in the lower back, side, or lower belly. Your child might also have blood in their urine, and it can hurt when they urinate.
The staff thinks it is safe for your child to try to pass their kidney stone at home.
How do I care for my child at home? —
Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for your child. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
You should also do the following:
●Call your child's regular doctor or urologist and tell them your child was in the ED. Make a follow-up appointment.
●Have your child drink extra fluids to help pass the stone.
●You might be asked to use a filter to strain your child's urine. The filter catches the stones. In some cases, the doctor might want to test the stones to learn more about them. If so, they will tell you where to bring the stone if you catch it.
●Give your child all their medicines as instructed:
•They might need to take pain medicine as the kidney stone passes. This usually includes non-prescription medicines to relieve pain, such as acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol) or ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin). In some cases, the doctor might prescribe a strong pain medicine.
•The doctor might prescribe medicine to increase the chance the stone will pass on its own. An example is tamsulosin (brand name: Flomax).
•Always check medicine labels to make sure you give your child the right dose.
When should I get emergency help?
●Return to the ED if your child:
•Does not urinate for more than 8 hours
•Has very bad pain in their back, shoulder, side, or belly even after taking pain medicines
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for advice if:
●Your child has a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills.
●Your child's urine is cloudy, smells bad, has blood in it all the time, or has blood clots.
●Your child is vomiting and cannot keep liquids down.
●Your child has new or worsening symptoms.
Patient education: Kidney stones in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Kidney stone diet (The Basics)
Patient education: Blood in the urine (hematuria) in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Kidney stones in children (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Blood in the urine (hematuria) in children (Beyond the Basics)
