Some features of paediatric urolithiasis in a group of Syrian children.

A group of 28 Syrian children (19 males and 9 females; age ranging from 2.5 to 12 years) were diagnosed clinically and radiologically to have upper urinary tract stones. The commonest presentations were renal colic, vomiting, haematuria, pyrexia and vague abdominal pain. Family history of renal stones was present in 21% of cases. Haematological picture and chemical analysis of blood were within the normal limits for their age and sex. Urine analysis, however, showed significantly marked increase in the 24-hour excretions of calcium and uric acid. Microscopic examination showed haematuria and pyuria in 72% of the children with urolithiasis. Chemical analysis of removed stones revealed that most of them were mixed stones of calcium oxalate and urate or/and phosphate. Pure stones of calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate were less common. Radiologically, about 95% of all stones were demonstrated by plain X-ray, while 5% only after IVP.