Kivitõbi

Kivitõbi is an Estonian term that translates to "stone disease" or "gravel disease." It is a colloquial and somewhat archaic term used to describe a condition characterized by the formation of stones or concretions within the body, most commonly referring to kidney stones or gallstones. The term reflects a traditional understanding of these ailments as being caused by the accumulation of hard, stone-like substances.

Historically, when medical diagnostics were less advanced, the presence of hard masses in the urinary tract or gallbladder was often attributed to a "stone disease." The symptoms associated with kivitõbi would typically include severe pain, particularly in the flank or abdomen, blood in the urine, nausea, and vomiting. These symptoms are consistent with the passage or obstruction caused by kidney stones or gallstones.

While the term kivitõbi is no longer used in formal medical contexts, it persists in older literature and in common language, especially among older generations in Estonia. Modern medicine has identified the specific biochemical processes and causes behind stone formation, such as the crystallization of minerals like calcium oxalate and uric acid in the kidneys, or the accumulation of cholesterol and bilirubin in the gallbladder. Therefore, what was once broadly termed kivitõbi is now understood and treated through specific medical diagnoses like nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) and cholelithiasis (gallstones).