PEDIATRIC UROLITHIASIS IN A REMOTE AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY

A retrospective study of Community Health Service patient records reve aled 10 cases of urolithiasis in Aboriginal children under 5 years of age in a remote central Australian Aboriginal community over a 4 year period, out of a total under-5 population estimate of 62. The highest attack rate was in the 0-2 age group, where nearly one in 10 children presented per year. All children had significant associated morbidity. Two children underwent pyelolithotomy. Aboriginal children in the rem ote arid zone study community suffer exceptionally high rates of uroli thiasis. Inadequate diet, dehydration and recurrent infectious disease are factors in pathogenesis. Further study may elucidate aetiology, b ut the implications of these data for improving environmental conditio ns and health service delivery in Aboriginal communities are urgent.