[A retrospective review of children hospitalised with urinary tract calculi].

INTRODUCTION

The incidence of urinary stones in Danish children is unknown. An estimate from The National Diagnosis Registry in Denmark is approximately 1:13,500. The purpose was to estimate the incidence of urinary stones and their composition in children in relation to sex, age and family history.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of all children presented at Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, or Roskilde Hospital from October 1999 through October 2005 with urinary tract calculi.

RESULTS

42 patients with an average age of 7.9 years. The sex ratio was 1.7 boys to 1 girl. 7 were of an ethnic origin other than Danish. 12, all boys, had inborn urogenital tract malformation. Two had secondary malformation and one had inborn error of metabolism. The incidence of urogenital infection was higher in children with malformation. In 26 patients, stone analysis and composition were available. 54% of the stones had a calcium component. One third of the children had a family history of urolithiasis.

CONCLUSION

Urinary tract stone is a rather difficult pediatric diagnosis. The most frequent symptom is abdominal pain. Ultrasound established the diagnosis in 50% of cases. All concrements were diagnosed with excretory urogram or computerized tomography. 30% of the children had a family history of urolithiasis. This confirms the importance of metabolic screening and stone analysis in children.