Chemical Composition Of Pediatric Urolithiasis In District Khairpur Mir’s

Abstract

Urolithiasis represents a substantial global health concern, with a particularly high incidence observed in the Afro-Asian stone belt, including Pakistan. While its multifactorial etiology remains under investigation, epidemiological studies consistently highlight age, sex, socioeconomic status, diet, climate, and geography as key risk factors. Urinary stone disease contributes significantly to urological caseloads, accounting for 40-50% of admissions in some hospitals, affecting all age groups. Notably, developing nations frequently exhibit two peaks in incidence: one in children, predominantly involving bladder stones, and another in adults with a higher prevalence of kidney stones. This prospective study investigated 40 pediatric urolithiasis patients in Khairpur, Pakistan, to characterize the local incidence and stone composition. Our findings revealed a strong male predominance (77.5% males vs. 22.5% females) and a peak incidence within the 3-4 year age group. Anatomical distribution showed that lower urinary tract stones were more common, present in 57.5% of patients, while upper urinary tract stones accounted for 42.5%. Chemical analysis identified calcium oxalate and phosphate (70%) as the predominant stone components, followed by uric acid (22.5%) and magnesium ammonium phosphate (7.5%). The persistent high burden of childhood urolithiasis in this region, particularly the endemic nature of bladder stones in rural and socioeconomically disadvantaged areas, underscores the urgent need for further comprehensive, long-term research. Such investigations are crucial to elucidate specific etiologies and inform targeted public health interventions to mitigate this significant pediatric health issue.

Keywords: Pediatric, Urolithiasis,  Kidney Stone, Chemical Composition