Characteristics of pediatric urolithiasis in south-east Anatolia

Background: Urolithiasis is endemic in Turkey and characteristics of urolit hiasis 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 urol ithiasis at a mean age of 6.2 +/- 4.2 years who were followed up for 1-32 m onths. 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, res pectively, while 13.6% of patients were considered idiopathic. Of all patie nts, 28.4% were admitted with acute renal failure (ARF) and 72.8% had urina ry tract infection. Recurrence was seen in 19.8% of patients at presentatio n. 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, res pectively. Patients with multiple and bilateral stones had a higher risk fo r ARF than the others. The risk for chronic renal failure was significantly higher in children with multiple, bilateral or recurrent stones and with A RF at presentation. Conclusions: Early diagnosis and management of renal stones and urinary tra ct infections is necessary to prevent the development of ARF or chronic ren al failure and to improve the quality of a patient's life.