Abstract
Eighty-one cases of urinary tract calculi in Nigerians seen at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria, over a period of five years are reviewed. A relative incidence of 13 per 100,000 was established.
At the time of presentation, 36 stones were found in the bladder, 21 in the kidneys, 20 in the ureters, one in the prostate and 3 in the urethra. Five patients had calculi at multiple sites.
There was a male to female ratio of 5∶1. Forty-one per cent of the calculi occurred in the 31–40-year age group, and 14.8% of cases were found in children.
Over 80% of the calculi were secondary to obstruction, infection and immobilization. Only 15% were idiopathic.
Urinary tract stone disease is rare in the Negroid race, as confirmed by this study on Nigerians. Avenues for further studies are suggested.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Vermooten, V.: Occurrence of renal calculi and their possible relation to diet as illustrated in South African Negroes.JAMA, 109, 857 (1937).
Esho, J. O.: Experience with urinary tract calculus disease in Nigerians as seen at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.Nig. Med. J., 6, 18 (1976).
Burkitt, D.: Surgical pathology in the course of the Nile.Ann R. Coll. Surg. Engl., 39, 236 (1966).
Blacklock, N. J.: Epidemiology of urolithiasis. In: Williams, D. I., Chisholm, G. D. (eds): Scientific Foundation of Urology, Vol. 1. Heinemann, London 1976, p. 238.
Quinland, W. S.: Urinary lithiasis: review of 33 cases in Negroes.Ibid.,53, 791 (1945).
Boyce, W. H., Garvey, F. K., Strawcutter, H. E.: Incidence of urinary calculi among patients in General Hospital 1948–52.JAMA, 161.
Anderson, G. S.: Urinary calculus in an island community.Br. J. Urol., 36, 556 (1964).
Sallinen, A.: Some, aspects of urolithiasis in Finland.Ibid., 479 (1959).
Frank, M., De Vries, A., Atson, A., Azebenik, J. A.: Epidemiological investigation of urolithiasis in Israel.J. Urol., 81, 497 (1959).
Anderson, D. A.: Historical and geographical differences in the pattern of incidence of urinary stones considered in relation to possible aetiological factor. In: Hodgkinson, A., Nordin, B. E. C. (eds): Renal Stone Research Symposium. J. and A. Churchill, London 1969, p. 31.
Nemoy, N. T., Staney, R. A.: Surgical, bacteriological and biochemical management of “infective stones”.JAMA, 215, 147 (1971).
Chutikorn, C.: Studies of bladder stone disease in Thailand, II.Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 20 120 (1967).
Halstead, S. B., Valvesseri, A.: Studies of bladder stone disease in Thailand. Introduction and description of area studies.Am. J. Med., 45, 645 (1968).
Noble, T. P.: Vesical calculus in Siam.Br. J. Urol., 3, 14 (1931).
Ecksein, H. B.: Endemic urinary lithiasis in Turkish children.Ibid.,36, 177 (1961).
Food composition table for use in Africa by Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations Nutrition Division — U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Public Health Service, 1968.
Oreopoulos, D. G., Soyanno, M. A. O., Mc Geown, M. G.: Magnesium/calcium ratio in urine of patients with renal stones.Lancet, 2, 420 (1968).
Modlin, M.: The aetiology of renal stone.Ann. R. Coll. Surg. Engl., 40, 155 (1967).
Butt, A. J.: Role of protective urinary colloids in prevention of renal lithiasis.J. Urol., 67, 450 (1952).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mbonu, O., Attah, C. & Ikeakor, I. Urolithiasis in an African population. International Urology and Nephrology 16, 291–296 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02081863
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02081863