Urinary lithiasis in pediatrics

Abstract

Renal lithiasis is an infrequent entity in childhood and its incidence is increasing in developed countries. It affects white individuals more than African-Americans in a 4:1 ratio, with male predominance. There are geographical, racial and genetic factors involved in its pathogenesis, which also depends on physicochemical factors (renal elimination of water and solutes, urinary pH, balance between factors that stimulate/inhibit crystallization), anatomical alterations, infections and socioeconomic changes; which over time have produced changes in dietary habits, which have modified the frequency, chemical composition and location of calculi. Despite its rarity, lithiasis should be considered in order to avoid irreversible renal damage. The availability of less aggressive therapy has reduced surgical indications to 5%, opening new perspectives in the treatment of urolithiasis in childhood.