TAINAN, Taiwan: A woman who was admitted to hospital here was found to have more than 300 kidney stones.
Her condition was no thanks to her penchant for drinking bubble tea instead of water.
Doctors found out that 20-year-old Xiao Yu had swollen kidneys with stones after they put her through an ultrasound.
She was suffering from fever and severe back pain.
They then put her under the knife and operated to remove the stones which looked like 'small steamed buns'.
The Chi Mei Medical Centre in the city of Tainan revealed that the CT scan showed the stones were between 5mm and 2cm in size, and the ensuing blood test indicated an increase in white blood cell count.
Doctors have revealed that kidney stones can be brought about by different factors, such as genetic predisposition, chronic illnesses, and diets that are rich in calcium and protein.
Dr Lim Chye-yang, the hospital's urologist, said that kidney stone cases usually happen during spring and summer because of the hot weather and dehydration.
When fluid intake is lower or less, this leads to urine becoming more concentrated which in turn makes minerals to amalgamate and crystallise becoming stones.
Dr Lim, who was the attending specialist who performed the surgery, said 9.6 per cent of people in Taiwan can develop kidney stones during their lifetime.
Xiao had a knack for drinking bubble tea instead of water and apparently she did not like to drink water, according to media reports.
It was also reported that men are more than three times as likely to develop stones compared to women.
Dr Lim added that kidney stones are usually found in people who are between 50 to 60 years-old.
Xiao was reported to be in stable condition after undergoing the surgery and she has been discharged from hospital.
