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Vesical calculus in Ethiopian children
1Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Addis Abeba University.
Insights
Childhood bladder stones, common in Asia and Africa, were reported for the first time in Ethiopia. This study reviewed pediatric urinary tract stones, finding most were bladder or urethral, similar to high-incidence regions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Urology
- Endemic Diseases
- Global Health
Background:
- Bladder stones in children (endemic bladder stone) are prevalent in parts of Asia and Africa.
- This study marks the first report of childhood bladder stones in Ethiopia.
- The Ethio-Swedish Children's Hospital in Addis Abeba serves as the study location.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the incidence and characteristics of bladder stones in children in Ethiopia.
- To compare findings from Ethiopia with those in high-incidence regions globally.
- To analyze the first documented series of pediatric urinary tract stones from Ethiopia.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of pediatric cases at the Ethio-Swedish Children's Hospital.
- Data collected over a ten-year period (1970-1980).
- Analysis of 48 cases of urinary tract stones, focusing on bladder and urethral stones.
Main Results:
- 94% of pediatric urinary tract stones were identified as bladder or urethral stones.
- The clinical presentation, age distribution, sex distribution, and stone composition align with descriptions from high-incidence areas.
- The overall incidence of these stones in the hospital's pediatric admissions was low (0.25%).
Conclusions:
- Childhood bladder stones occur in Ethiopia, presenting similarly to endemic regions.
- Further research is needed to understand the specific etiological factors in the Ethiopian context.
- Despite similarities, the low incidence suggests unique epidemiological factors may be at play.
Abstract:
Bladder stone in childhood, otherwise known as endemic bladder stone, is common in parts of Asia and some areas of Africa. This is the first report on bladder stone in children from Ethiopia. A series from the Ethio-Swedish Children's Hospital, Addis Abeba over a ten year period from 1970 to 1980 was retrospectively reviewed. There were 48 cases of stones in the urinary tract of which 94% were bladder or urethral stones. Age, sex, clinical presentation and composition of stones are similar to what is described from countries having a high incidence of this disease. The incidence in this hospital material is low accounting for only 0.25% of admissions.