Bladder stone in a 3-year-old Dominican male

Bladder stones forming in the absence of underlying uropathy are termed primary, or endemic, bladder stones. They are prevalent among children in certain developing nations of Asia and northern Africa. Dietary deficiencies have been implicated in the cause of such stones, because they occur in regions of malnutrition and poverty; yet studies remain inconclusive. Interestingly, reports are lacking of primary bladder stones occurring in Central and South America, as well as in the Caribbean and Pacific islands, where certainly there are areas of impoverishment. The reasons for this remain unclear. This article presents the case of a primary bladder stone occurring in a patient from the Dominican Republic.