Bladder stones in childhood: a descriptive study in a rural setting in Saravan Province, Lao PDR.

The aim of the study was to describe clinical cases of childhood bladder stones and associated risk factors. Forty children (9 girls), aged 1-14-years old, (means 4.7 +/- 0.5 years), who underwent surgical stone removal in the Saravane Provincial Hospital during a 13-month period, were included. Bladder stone removal accounted for 55% of all surgical procedures performed on children. Most frequent symptoms were impaired micturition (97%) and acute urinary retention (32%). Body mass index was low, at < 18.5 in 92% of all cases, indicating serious associated malnutrition. Parental interviews disclosed a history of recent episodes of diarrhea (> 3 episodes in the previous year), recurrent urinary tract infection, and familial urolithiasis, in 60, 32, and 27% of patients, respectively. All children had been or were being breastfed, but 72% of the mothers introduced white rice into their children' diet as early as the first week of life, while 85% of them used to vary the food regimen (introducing meat, fish, fruit and vegetables) only after 1 year of age. This preliminary study suggests that the morbidity and social cost of childhood bladder stones may be high. A larger scale prospective and comparative study assessing their incidence and associated nutritional factors is warranted and feasible, and may lead to preventive measures.