La calcolosi delle vie urinarie in età pediatrica a tutto tondo

Abstract

Overall, the incidence of paediatric urolithiasis is increasing; 50-90% of cases are due to metabolic alterations, 3-30% are associated with urinary tract infections and the remaining cases are idio-pathic. About 20-30% of children, especially boys who are younger than 2 years of age, present an anatomic urinary tract anomaly. The main symptom is abdominal pain; however, young children tend to have subtle manifestations. Abdominal ultrasound is the first-line imaging technique. Conservative treatment with fluid intake, pain relievers and alpha-adrenergic blockers are used during the acute episode, whereas a surgical treatment is indicated in selected cases. Since there is an increased rate of recurrence in comparison to adulthood, abundant hydration and changes in dietary habits have a central role in the prevention of paediatric urolithiasis. It is very important to perform a metabolic evaluation when the acute episode is resolved, as 50% of the cases present an underlying metabolic disorder. If a metabolic abnormality is diagnosed, specific preventive interventions should be undertaken. The paper presents the clinical case of an infant who during a Proteus mirabilis urinary tract infection has developed obstructive acute kidney injury due to a stone in the distal urethra. The incidence of urinary stones caused by urinary tract infection is decreasing, however this eventuality should be considered.