Abstract

DURAN ALVAREZ, Sandalio. Urolithiasis in the child. Rev Cubana Pediatr [online]. 2013, vol.85, n.3, pp.371-385. ISSN 0034-7531.

Urinary tract litiasis is a condition that is generally associated to metabolic impairments such as hypercalciuria, hypocitraturia, hyperphosphaturia, hyperuricosuria, hyperoxaluria, cystinuria and urinary acidification defect. However the true etiology of the disease is multifactoral and its formation involves genetic predisposition and environmental factors among which diet and low fluid intake contribute to the formation of calculi. The genetic and anatomic causes are the main factors in children and adolescents. Idiopathic hypercalciuria is the most frequent cause in these age groups, although as it occurs in the adult, the environmental factors (diet salt, protein, calcium and other nutrient intake) may be important for the disease. Among the local factors of the urine that may favor the formation of calculi are low urinary volume, low urinary pH, urinary retention and infections. This review briefly analyzed the various causes of lithiasis and assessed the importance of adequate fluid intake, the changes in diet that can be made according to the type of lithiasis, the different therapeutic actions that should be taken in case of lithiasis-caused renal colic, asymptomatic cases with proven lithiasis and in those cases in which lithiasis may obstruct urinary flow.

Keywords : urolithiasis; idiopathic hypercalciuria; nephric colic; lithiasis types.

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