UROLITHIASIS IN AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL CHILDREN

Thirty-six Australian Aboriginal children with urolithiasis were revie wed. Males dominated the series. The age distribution ranged from 8 mo nths to 12 years and nearly 70% were 2 years or younger. Thirty-five p atients had upper tract stones. Ultrasound was diagnostic in 35 patien ts and was falsely negative in one. Dietary factors, dehydration and r ecurrent diarrhoea are incriminated in the aetiology, because ammonium urate and oxalate were the main constituents of the stones. Malformat ions of the urinary tract were rare and known metabolic disorders were not seen. Chemical dissolution of the stones was found to be a safe a nd effective adjuvant in the management of urate stones.