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Struvite stones are a unique kind of kidney stone that mostly happen because of urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by bacteria that make urease, such as Proteus or Klebsiella. The chemical changes caused by bacteria make urine more alkaline, which is when these stones form. They are made of magnesium ammonium phosphate. They constitute about 10–15% of all kidney stones and are more common in women since they are more likely to get UTIs.

Struvite stones can develop quickly and are enormous, sometimes filling the renal pelvis and taking on a staghorn shape. This quick growth could happen without any signs or symptoms at first. When they have symptoms, patients may have significant pain in their sides, back, or abdomen; nausea; vomiting; frequent and painful urination; murky or foul-smelling urine; and fever. Blood in the urine and frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs) are other common signs. Struvite stones can block the flow of urine, hurt the kidneys permanently, or make infections more likely if they are not addressed.

Most of the time, antibiotics are used to get rid of the infection, and surgery is used to remove the stones, especially if they are too big to pass on their own. To avoid problems and keep renal function, it is essential to act quickly.