Characteristics of pediatric urolithiasis in south-east Anatolia

BACKGROUND: Urolithiasis is endemic in Turkey and characteristics of urolithiasis vary in different regions of the world. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the etiological and clinical characteristics and course of pediatric urolithiasis in south-east Turkey. METHODS: The study population consisted of 81 children (52 girls) with urolithiasis at a mean age of 6.2 +/- 4.2 years who were followed up for 1-32 months. RESULTS: Metabolic disorders, anatomical defects and infection stones were found to be the etiological factor in 34.6, 29.6 and 22.2% of patients, respectively, while 13.6% of patients were considered idiopathic. Of all patients, 28.4% were admitted with acute renal failure (ARF) and 72.8% had urinary tract infection. Recurrence was seen in 19.8% of patients at presentation. The localization of the stone was found to be in the upper urinary tract, the lower urinary tract or both in 65.4, 14.8% and 17.3% of patients, respectively. Patients with multiple and bilateral stones had a higher risk for ARF than the others. The risk for chronic renal failure was significantly higher in children with multiple, bilateral or recurrent stones and with ARF at presentation. CONCLUSIONS: Early diagnosis and management of renal stones and urinary tract infections is necessary to prevent the development of ARF or chronic renal failure and to improve the quality of a patient's life.