Urinary Lithiasis in Children at the Abeche Chu

Abstract

Introduction: Urinary calculosis is the presence of stones in the urinary tract. It is more common in adults than in children. The aetiologies are multiple and depend on age. The management of calculi in children requires an active aetiological search because of the frequency of hereditary abnormalities which are at the origin of recurrences. The aim of our study was to report the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of urinary lithiasis in children in the context of our practice. Aim: To report the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of urinary lithiasis in children in our practice context. Patients and Method: This was a retrospective descriptive study carried out in the Urology Department of the University Hospital of Abeche from January 2013 to December 2019. Thirty files of patients aged 0 to 15 years operated on for urinary lithiasis were retained. The variables studied for each patient were: age, sex, clinical, para-clinical and therapeutic aspects. Results: We selected 30 cases. Patients ranged in age from 0 to 15 years, with an average age of 5.5 years. There were 26 boys and 4 girls. 62% of the patients were from rural areas. The antecedents were bilharziasis, urinary tract infections, congenital malformation, trauma and bladder lithiasis. Clinical symptoms were dominated by acute urinary retention (n = 16) and dysuria (n = 14). Urine cytobacteriological tests were positive in 16 cases. The diagnosis was made in the majority of cases by ultrasound and/or unprepared abdomen (UA). The location of lithiasis was mainly the bladder (n = 16). Treatment was surgical in 96.7% of cases, with cystolithotomy predominating. Therapeutic results were satisfactory in 90% of cases. Conclusion: Urinary calculi in children are less common than in adults. In our region, stones are most often found in the bladder. Open surgery is still the preferred method of treatment in our practice.