Childhood urolithiasis in North-Western Libya

Abstract EN

The study reviews causes of urolithiasis and its manifestations in North-West (NW) Libya.

Libyan childhood urolithiasis accounted for 3.6 % of nephrology out-patient work load.

There were 59 children with urolithiasis, including 34 boys and 25 girls with a mean age of 2.8 ± 2.42 years.

Urolithiasis was more common among younger age groups (P = 0.001) and in boys with primary oxaluria and infective etiology.

The causes of urolithiasis included metabolic stones in 64 %, infective in 26 %, and it was idiopathic in 10 %.

Overall, family history of renal stone disease was elicited in 59 % ; it was 92 % in patients with primary oxaluria.

The main presenting features were abdominal pain (27 %), gross hematuria (22 %), associated urinary tract infection (UTI ; 24 %), and stone release in 19 %.

Stone location was bilateral in 64 %, multiple in 68 %, and in the upper tract in 93 % (P = 0.05).

Important complications encountered included chronic renal failure (13 %), hydronephrosis (34 %), systemic hypertension (8 %), and rickets in 17 %.

Calcium oxalate was the most prominent constituent, seen in 41 % of the calculi, followed by struvite (21 %), uric acid (10 %), carbapatite (7 %), and cystine (3.5 %).

Diagnostically helpful findings were family history, age at presentation, UTI by unease producing organisms, rickets, imaging and chemical analysis of calculi.

Early detection and prompt treatment helps in preventing long-term sequelae in patients with urolithiasis.