Urinary stone disease in Tanzania: an insight into the magnitude of the problem

Urolithiasis is generally said to be rare in Africans. Detailed studies of the condition are few in our region. This 2 year prospective study at Muhimbili Medical Centre identified 77 adult patients with urinary stones. Males were affected 3 times more commonly than females and most patients were in the young productive age group. Many patients reached hospital several months or years after the onset of symptoms. However, as in industrial countries, upper urinary tract stones were predominant. Involved kidneys suffered serious damage especially in the presence of obstruction and infection. The only available treatment was outmoded surgery, and long delays were inevitable in the face of overstretched resources, resulting in the sacrifice of kidneys. Urolithiasis is probably not nearly as uncommon as we have been led to believe from impressions and retrospective studies of incomplete records. Therefore, there is a need for more research on the problem in our region.