Urolithiasis in Tunisian children : a study of 100 cases

The aim of this study is to assess the clinical and biological characteristics of renal stone disease among children living in the coastal region of Tunisia. This retrospective multi-center study included 100 children under the age of 16 years, who presented with urinary stones. The patients' charts were reviewed with regard to age at diagnosis, sex, history and physical exami­nation as well as laboratory and radiologic findings. Stone analysis was performed by infrared spec­trophotometry. The male / female sex ratio was 1.5 to 1. The clinical presentation of this pathology was dominated by dysuria. Stones were located in the upper urinary tract in 76 cases (76 %). A total of 13 % of the study subjects had positive urine cultures. Metabolic investigations were performed in all patients and were normal in 80 cases. Wheelie (calcium oxalate) was found in 77 stones (77.0 %). Stone section was made of wheelie in 69.0 % of cases and ammonium urate in 47.0 %. Struvite stones were more frequently seen in the lower urinary tract. Our study suggests that the epidemiological profile of renal stones in Tunisia has changed towards a predominance of calcium oxalate stones and upper tract location. Also, the male predominance of pediatric urolithiasis is becoming less obvious in Tunisia.